"This is the high time for Bangladesh to get preparation aiming at stake in the global software industry before the country is connected with the SEA-ME-WE4 network," visiting Managing Director and President of Alcatel South Asia Ravi Sharma told The Daily Star in an exclusive interview on Saturday.

State-owned Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) along with a consortium of 13 other countries has joined a pact named 'SEA-ME-WE4' to hook up its telecommunication network to the transoceanic submarine cable system by September 2005.

Bangladesh has a vision to earn US$2 billion from the country's software sector by the year 2006.

The country's export earnings from software increased to over 74 percent in the fiscal year 2003-04 to Tk 42.33 crore, according to statistics of Export Promotion Bureau. It was Tk 28.31 crore in 2002-03.

The Alcatel president said the level of talent of the Indians and the Bangladeshis is almost same. If India can earn $17 billion from software in two or three years, why Bangladesh would not be able to grab a good share in global software market? he raised the point.

Bangladesh is sitting on the threshold of growth and it has every potential for doing better in software, Sharma said adding that Bangladesh only lacks the connectivity which is now a matter of time to get.

Sharma said expansion of broadband could be a solution to the lack of connectivity. Broadband will also provide voice, data, cable television and Internet facilities through one connection, he added.

Referring to the expertise of Alcatel in DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), he said the company produces ten DSL and ADSL ports in every second.

He said Alcatel, with its technology and experience, can help Bangladesh in this regard. "Bangladesh should move faster and roll out broadband network," suggested Sharma, an engineer who has vast experience in telecommunications.

Referring to the benefits of telecommunications in GDP, he said it contributes six times higher in GDP than any other sector.

Focusing on tremendous demand of cellular telephone in the country, Sharma who had worked with Eurostar, British Telecom and UB Group said Bangladesh's cellphone sector will grow further beyond the estimates.

Regarding the market share of Alcatel in the country, he said Alcatel enjoys 50 percent market share in fixed line telephony both in terms of switching and transmission equipment.

Alcatel, acting in Bangladesh since 1992, has so far installed the largest PABX for Bangladesh Army, optical fibre link for Jamuna Bridge, switching gear and transmission equipment for all private cellphone operators and BTTB.