Internet data use in Bangladesh slumps after govt blocks Facebook, other apps

The traffic from Bangladesh to the internet has dropped as much as 30 percent after the government blocked Facebook and several social other media apps, mobile-phone and IIG operators say.

They say their businesses will take a hit if the ban continues.

Bangladesh government made Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Viber, WhatsApp and several other messaging and calling apps inaccessible on Nov 18 on the grounds of national security.

It has given no indication as to when the ban on the applications will be lifted.

IIG operator Fibre at Home’s Strategy Officer Sumon Ahmed Sabir said about 3Gbps of their data had been used daily on an average to browse Facebook and for other apps before the ban.

“But the usage has slumped by 30 percent since last week,” he said, adding that other apps do not take up much data.

Many users say they are using Facebook through other proxy sites.

Several IIG operators said they lack the technology to completely block the site.

Telecoms regulators BTRC Chairman Shajahan Mahmood claimed to have curbed the usage by 90 percent.

IIG operators say the temporary ban is unlikely to affect them in the short term since they sell data on a monthly basis but fear a prolonged ban will bite into their profits.

About 51.9 million subscribers out of 54 million use mobile internet until September, according to latest BTRC data.

The ban has cut through the average data usage on mobile phone by about 30 percent.

An official with a top mobile-phone operator said their internet package sale had also declined.

Another official feared a lengthy ban would discourage mobile internet use.

IIG operators say Bangladeshi users consume about 220Gbps every day. State-owned BSCCL provides about 70Gbps.

The BSCCL’s Managing Director Monwar Hossain said they had not calculated how much their data usage had declined after the ban.

IT expert Mustafa Jabbar criticised the ban, saying it was having “a negative impact and harming the business”.

“The social media ban has sparked anger among the young generation against government,” he said. “There was no reason to block Facebook. When you have alternative ways to enter the house, what’s the point in locking the door?”