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Published : 13 Jul 2025, 01:54 AM
Despite rapid technological advances, nearly half of Bangladesh’s population remains disconnected from the internet due to ongoing disputes between telecom operators and infrastructure providers, according the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
BTRC Chairman Emdad ul Bari revealed that around 90 million people are still without internet access, urging all parties to overcome their differences and collaborate urgently to bridge the digital divide.
Speaking at a high-level roundtable on telecommunications infrastructure in Dhaka, Bari highlighted that the core issue lies in the “failure” of mobile operators and the National Telecom Transmission Network (NTTN) companies to share fibre optic infrastructure effectively.
Before 2009, mobile operators laid their own fibre optic cables and some used railway fibre networks.
Later, the interim government granted NTTN licences for fibre optic deployment, transferring control of cables to NTTN firms.
Currently, Bangladesh has three state-owned and three private NTTN companies, with Fiber@Home and Summit Communications dominating the market.
Media reports have questioned whether these companies received “undue advantages” under the Awami League government, which they deny.
Mobile operators blame NTTNs for service disruptions and high costs, while NTTN operators argue that a shared “common network” helps reduce data prices and avoids redundant expenses from multiple fibre deployments.
Mobile operators want to lease dark fibre networks from NTTNs, whereas NTTNs seek fees based on bandwidth usage.
The two sides have been unable to resolve the issue through negotiation.
In April, the interim government announced that mobile companies could use Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology and lease dark fibre from NTTNs, but no agreement has yet been reached.
Referring to this deadlock, Bari said: “Around 90 million people remain disconnected. Of them, 40 to 45 million are adults aged over 15. They have no connectivity. Our internet coverage is below 50 percent.
“While we say we have 130 to 135 million internet users, that figure includes anyone who uses just 2MB or 5MB once a month
“If we exclude such users, regular internet users number between 75 and 80 million.”
He added, “There are about 45 million households in the country. Only 20 to 22.5 million have internet access. The remaining 25 to 30 million do not.”
Bari said mobile operators initially did much to expand coverage and deserved credit but questioned why infrastructure sharing did not happen fully.
“The ILDTS policy began to promote infrastructure sharing and accountability. NTTNs were introduced under this policy, but then we got stuck. Both sides behaved in ways with what I would describe as ‘lack of desire for fairness’,” he said.
He criticised both parties. “You did not want to give up your business. NTTNs refused to provide dark fibre. Mobile operators did not hand over their traffic
“Both flexed their muscles. NTTNs even stopped providing DWDM services. This bottleneck is why 90 million people remain disconnected. We are stuck in the middle.”
Bari said mobile operators originally installed 2G towers that had a much wider range.
When 4G was added to these towers, their range shrank to two-thirds, creating a large coverage gap.
“We now need many more towers and sharing, but you are not sharing. Guidelines for sharing existed from the beginning but were not followed,” he added.
Citing India, he said: “India needs 5 million km of fibre optic cables to launch 5G and has already laid over 4.3 million km. Bangladesh requires only 500,000km.
In the last 15 to 16 years, we have documented 160,000km, of which 115,000 are overhead fibre.
“There has been little investment in infrastructure over this period.”
He also pointed out a usage gap due to low smartphone penetration, saying this is not just the telecom sector’s responsibility. “Operators argue that SIM locking is needed to provide mobile sets. We have now asked device manufacturers to implement device locking systems.”
Regarding new regulations, Bari said: “Our goal is to simplify and deregulate as much as possible. We want to leave the market and competition to decide. As a regulator, our role is to maintain competition.”
“But no one is happy because no one wants to leave their comfort zone. Everyone holds on to their position.”
On licence migration, he said: “There is confusion about what will happen to licences that are to be discontinued. We have proposed a migration plan.
“Licences already issued are commitments from the government. No changes will be forced before their expiry. Upon renewal, licences will fall under the new licensing regime.”
He reassured those whose licences may be discontinued that services will continue and applications can be submitted either now or after current licence expiry.
The BTRC is considering incentives for early conversion, Bari noted.
Emphasising collaboration, Bari said: “We are not trying to understand the strength of collaboration enough. We want all levels of industry players to sit down and find solutions together.
“Without collaboration, we cannot develop a digital service ecosystem.”
