Experts project bandwidth prices could plunge to BDT 60-70 by 2027 if market competition is deregulated
TRNB Workshop Urges Private Submarine Cables to Break Broadband Monopoly
- Tech analysts and ISPAB call for licensing private submarine cable consortiums and enforcing active network sharing
- State-run BSCPLC's bandwidth monopoly hits BDT 4,000Cr in revenue while discouraging global tech giants from setting up local data centers
- Route diversification and open carrier neutrality are deemed critical to transform Bangladesh into a regional technology hub
Demanding the dismantlement of state-enforced market monopolies to guarantee resilient, high-speed, and affordable broadband access across the nation, industry analysts and internet stakeholders have urged the government to issue submarine cable licenses to private operators. The recommendations were formulated during a specialized workshop and panel organized by the Technology Reporters Network, Bangladesh (TRNB) at the Skyline Restaurant in the capital on Tuesday, 22 September 2026.
Delivering the welcome address, TRNB President Masuduzzaman Robin underscored that expanding foreign direct investment and private capital into upstream transmission backbones is essential to delivering quality, low-cost connectivity to end consumers. Moderated by former TRNB President Samir Kumar Dey, the session featured keynote technical dissertations presented by Metaco Project Lead Mahmud Shahed and Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) Treasurer Moin Uddin Ahmed.
Presenting ISPAB’s 10-point reform framework under the paper 'Affordable Internet for All', Moin Uddin Ahmed argued that while the state initiates early infrastructure projects, prolonged operational control stiffens growth; these assets should transition to private sector competition. "Merely increasing user numbers is insufficient; our national priority must shift toward ensuring meaningful, quality internet consumption. Currently, dependency on a single upstream provider forces backup channels to operate as default primary routes during outages. If Bangladesh aspires to become an international tech hub, multiplying physical submarine cable landings, ensuring domestic fiber sharing, and establishing carrier neutrality are essential," Ahmed observed.
Presenting an empirical review of international bandwidth carriage, Mahmud Shahed demonstrated how shifting from monopoly structures to competitive oligopolistic markets radically compresses data tariffs. He estimated that genuine market competition could drive wholesale bandwidth rates down to BDT 60–70 per unit by the close of 2027.
Shahed highlighted that Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCPLC) maintains near-exclusive market dominance across two international undersea cables, swelling its revenues to BDT 4,000 crore. However, protective barriers safeguarding state revenues are impeding private investments. He disclosed that global tech giants—including Google, Meta, Akamai, Cloudflare, and Amazon—collectively utilize 13,500 Gbps of bandwidth across Bangladesh, yet hesitate to deploy domestic hyperscale data centers due to regulatory bottlenecks. Licensing private enterprise cables would decisively protect national data sovereignty, lower subscriber tariffs, and accelerate regional cloud infrastructure.
//DBTech/IH/SME/MIST//
Demanding the dismantlement of state-enforced market monopolies to guarantee resilient, high-speed, and affordable broadband access across the nation, industry analysts and internet stakeholders have urged the government to issue submarine cable licenses to private operators. The recommendations were formulated during a specialized workshop and panel organized by the Technology Reporters Network, Bangladesh (TRNB) at the Skyline Restaurant in the capital on Tuesday, 22 September 2026.
Delivering the welcome address, TRNB President Masuduzzaman Robin underscored that expanding foreign direct investment and private capital into upstream transmission backbones is essential to delivering quality, low-cost connectivity to end consumers. Moderated by former TRNB President Samir Kumar Dey, the session featured keynote technical dissertations presented by Metaco Project Lead Mahmud Shahed and Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) Treasurer Moin Uddin Ahmed.
Presenting ISPAB’s 10-point reform framework under the paper 'Affordable Internet for All', Moin Uddin Ahmed argued that while the state initiates early infrastructure projects, prolonged operational control stiffens growth; these assets should transition to private sector competition. "Merely increasing user numbers is insufficient; our national priority must shift toward ensuring meaningful, quality internet consumption. Currently, dependency on a single upstream provider forces backup channels to operate as default primary routes during outages. If Bangladesh aspires to become an international tech hub, multiplying physical submarine cable landings, ensuring domestic fiber sharing, and establishing carrier neutrality are essential," Ahmed observed.
Presenting an empirical review of international bandwidth carriage, Mahmud Shahed demonstrated how shifting from monopoly structures to competitive oligopolistic markets radically compresses data tariffs. He estimated that genuine market competition could drive wholesale bandwidth rates down to BDT 60–70 per unit by the close of 2027.
Shahed highlighted that Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCPLC) maintains near-exclusive market dominance across two international undersea cables, swelling its revenues to BDT 4,000 crore. However, protective barriers safeguarding state revenues are impeding private investments. He disclosed that global tech giants—including Google, Meta, Akamai, Cloudflare, and Amazon—collectively utilize 13,500 Gbps of bandwidth across Bangladesh, yet hesitate to deploy domestic hyperscale data centers due to regulatory bottlenecks. Licensing private enterprise cables would decisively protect national data sovereignty, lower subscriber tariffs, and accelerate regional cloud infrastructure.
//DBTech/IH/SME/MIST//
