Bangladesh Lags in IPv6 Adoption at 18%

Bangladesh is lagging behind the South Asian region in adopting Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), with only 18 percent usage compared with the regional rate of 66 percent. The gap highlights the need for stronger policy initiatives to modernise the country’s internet infrastructure, improve network security and prepare for future growth.

Speakers at the 22nd conference of the Bangladesh Network Operators Group (BDNOG) highlighted the figures and called for coordinated government and industry initiatives to accelerate IPv6 deployment. The conference was held on Saturday, November 14, at Long Beach Hotel in Cox’s Bazar.

The keynote speaker, Zia Rong Lo, Director General of the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), said IPv6 adoption stood at 66 percent across South Asia, while Bangladesh’s rate was only 18 percent. He said Bangladesh remained far behind in implementation and that the situation was not a good example from a network security perspective.

“Network security is not a choice; it is a necessity,” he said. He also announced that the 2027 conference of the South Asian Network Operators Group (SANG) would be held in Bangladesh.

Local speakers said the government needed to take the initiative to accelerate IPv6 deployment. They observed that implementation would become easier if the government took an active role and said the industry was looking forward to such action.

Brigadier General Shafiul Azam Parvez, Director General (E&O) of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), attended as chief guest. He said he saw no alternative to IPv6 and urged the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) to expand its adoption across the country. He added that BTRC would take initiatives if it received proposals from the industry on the issue.

Special guests included Mursheda Zaman, Chief Executive Officer of the Business Promotion Council (BPC), and Mohammad Aminul Hakim, President of ISPAB. ISPAB General Secretary Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan and BDNOG Trustee Board Chairman Rashed Amin Bidyut were also present.

ISPAB President Mohammad Aminul Hakim said that cooperation among ISPAB, BDNOG and APNIC could take Bangladesh’s ISP sector to the next level. He urged the three organisations to work together towards that goal.

BDNOG General Secretary Barkatullah Alam Biplob said 105 engineers from internet service providers across the country participated in this year’s technical workshop. The three-day workshop, held from November 11 to 13, focused particularly on advanced routing and enterprise network security. He added that the event featured more international speakers than previous editions.

Local keynote speaker Gazi Jihadul Kabir said bandwidth consumption in South Asia was increasing, but revenue was not growing at a corresponding rate. His presentation outlined possible ways to address the issue.

The technical workshop began in Cox’s Bazar on November 11, bringing together network engineers, internet service providers, technology experts and related professionals from across Bangladesh. The four-day programme concluded with the main conference on November 14, following the three-day workshop from November 11 to 13.

Participants had opportunities to develop technical knowledge and exchange experience on network operations, internet technologies and related subjects. The conference also created opportunities for engineers, operators, industry experts and technology professionals to strengthen communication and collaboration across Bangladesh’s internet sector.

BDNOG organised the event, with ISPAB serving as co-organiser. The Business Promotion Council under the Ministry of Commerce supported the programme, while Amber IT Limited was the internet partner. Organisers also thanked the APNIC Executive Committee for attending the conference.

//DBTech/HAH/SCDE/FOED//