Mobile Internet Users Declining in Bangladesh
Amid the nationwide excitement over satellite-based internet service Starlink, the number of mobile internet users in Bangladesh is on a steady decline. While broadband subscriptions have seen an increase, mobile internet usage has dropped consistently over the past several months. Even with individuals using multiple SIM cards on a single device, the total number of mobile connections is also decreasing.
According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), nearly 9.4 million internet users and 13.2 million mobile internet users have dropped in the past seven months as of January 2024.
The latest BTRC report, published on March 6, shows that as of June 2023, the total number of mobile subscribers stood at 196 million. However, by January 2024, this number declined to 186.6 million. During the same period, the number of internet users was recorded at approximately 129.2 million.
As per BTRC's data, an individual is considered a mobile subscriber if they use their SIM card at least once within the past 90 days. Even by this measure, the number of mobile internet users dropped to 116 million in January 2024.
Currently, the total number of internet users in Bangladesh, including both mobile and broadband subscribers, is around 130 million, which was 142.2 million in June 2023. During this period, broadband internet users increased slightly, reaching 14 million. Across the country, around 3,500 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are offering broadband services. Meanwhile, three multinational operators and one state-run operator are providing mobile services.
Declining Mobile Internet Usage Reflected in Operator Reports
According to the financial report of Grameenphone, Bangladesh’s oldest mobile operator, its active data users declined from 49.3 million in Q2 2024 (April–June) to 48 million in Q4 2024 (October–December).
The report also indicates that Grameenphone users have reduced their average spending by BDT 13. In Q4 2023, the average monthly spending per user was BDT 161, which dropped to BDT 148 in Q4 2024. Meanwhile, Robi’s average revenue per user (ARPU) fell from BDT 147 to BDT 142.
The financial statement of Robi, a publicly listed mobile operator, highlights a decrease in 4G data users, dropping from 37.6 million in Q2 2024 to 36.3 million in Q4 2024.
On the other hand, Banglalink reported a 14.4% increase in annual revenue for the 2023 fiscal year, reaching BDT 61.5 billion compared to the previous year.
As broadband usage grows and new alternatives like Starlink emerge, the mobile internet market in Bangladesh is undergoing a transformation, raising critical questions about the future of traditional mobile data services.
