Data Dilemma: Experts Urge Focus on Quality Over Cost
Despite a 17 percent price drop by mobile operators over the past eight months in Bangladesh, data usage has remained stagnant even as the number of users continues to rise. This prompted Mohammad Zulfikar, Secretary General of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB), to call for a shift in focus from pricing to service quality and content. “Instead of only reducing prices, we need to prioritize quality and content,” he urged during a roundtable held on Saturday to discuss challenges, opportunities, and solutions for internet service at the grassroots level.
Telecom and technology expert Mostafa Mamun Hossain challenged the narrative that Bangladeshi operators are under-earning, stating, “Compared to global operators, mobile companies in Bangladesh are not underperforming. Reviewing financial statements of Telenor (Grameenphone) and Axiata (Robi), we’ve seen EBITDA margins close to 70 percent.” He also revealed that mobile internet operators in the country generate BDT 36,000 crore annually, yet spend only about 0.5 percent of that on NTTN (Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network) capacity—amounting to around BDT 600 crore. “If this scope were given to broadband providers, this money would remain entirely within the country,” he emphasized.
Karim Bhuiyan, General Secretary of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), highlighted infrastructural inefficiencies. “If fiber cables were laid underground, BDT 100 crore could be saved every month. We’ve succeeded in Dhanmondi, but the project is yet to be approved for wider expansion,” he stated.
He further added, “I don’t know why active sharing isn’t being implemented. ISPs lose BDT 100 crore every month due to fiber cuts. Someone wakes up in the morning, sees a cable in front of their house, and just cuts it. How many times must we repeat the same thing? Look at Dhanmondi—everyone there is happy.”
Moinul Hossain, Managing Director of Fiber@Home, emphasized that using a common network infrastructure would reduce transmission costs. “We need strong partnerships to make this happen,” he said.
The roundtable, held in the BTRC conference hall in Dhaka, addressed how internet pricing and quality can be balanced to remain within reach of general consumers. Speakers from across the telecom sector shared insights.
Shahed Alam, Company Secretary and Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer at Robi, noted that “the fixed broadband penetration rate in the country is only 6.3 percent. If ISPs are empowered to grow in this market, more investment will follow. With proper incentives, the fixed broadband sector could see significant expansion.”
Taimur Rahman, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer of Banglalink, pointed to spectrum pricing as a major concern. “In many countries, users don’t pay separately for mobile and broadband services. In Bangladesh, we need to explore how we can offer bundled, efficient services together.” He added, “If ISPs and mobile operators collaborate, we can ensure high-quality service for all.”
ATM Saifur Rahman Khan, AGM of Teletalk, stressed the importance of network expansion to improve service delivery.
Speakers collectively agreed that sustainable systems must be established to prevent internet disruptions. They advocated for changes in curricula and cultural practices to align with upcoming digital transformations. Regulatory barriers in licensing were also identified as factors hampering service quality. “If we can sit together and resolve these issues, everyone can grow their businesses side by side,” a participant concluded.
