Globally, telecentres experiences challenges in financial sustainability where social sustainability partially achieved for limited time period. Also scaling up and replication of telecentres need 'innovation' in terms of services to sustain in the long run. Since, we have only few examples of such initiatives i.e. Best Practices or good examples, time has come focus more on this issue.

Bangladesh Institute of ICT in Development (BIID) has been engaged for last few years in telecentre related activities and partnered with different stakeholders. Based on its hands on experience and understanding the local as well as global trend of telecentres, BIID framed the inclusive business model of telecentres and now rolling out Batighar (Light House) in all over the country.

The core of the model is serving poor through profit. With the motivation from Village Phone model of Grameen Bank and Grameen Phone, it has been proved that 'FREE' services can't sustain rather 'affordable' and relevant services with innovation can only ensure sustainability of telecentres. BIID focused more 'service' offerings for the targeted beneficiaries and developed partnership with organizations like Intel, Grameen Phone, Agriculture University, University of Liberal Arts, Aysha Memorial Hospital, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI), Junior Chamber International (JCI) and ACI Limited.

BIID's service basket includes e-Krishok for farmers, Intel Easy Steps for young adults, eClinic for underprivileged patients, SME.com.bd for small businesses and Short Code 16250 for e-Information via mobile phone.

We are now looking for strategic partners to scale up the service globally and social investors to extend the service basket and integrate emerging technologies to ensure maximum reach.

Please visit us at www.biid.org.bd