The Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Major General (Retd) Emdad Ul Bari, has called on internet service providers to make internet services more affordable. Responding to this call, the Mobile Subscriber Association has urged for a unified “One Country, One Rate” pricing for bandwidth purchases across all government and private sectors. In response, mobile operators have expressed concerns about NTTN (National Telecommunication Transmission Network) companies failing to deliver affordable internet access to rural areas.
On October 29, the International Internet Gateway Association of Bangladesh (IIGAB) submitted a proposal to BTRC to reduce internet prices. According to the proposal, prices in different bandwidth tiers would be lowered, with a floor price of BDT 215 and a ceiling price of BDT 265 for 1-500 Mbps bandwidth.
Previously, in September 2021, BTRC had set a unified rate for ISPs, establishing a floor price of BDT 365 within Dhaka and BDT 399 outside Dhaka, covering NTTN costs. With the current five-year tariff period still active, IIGAB’s new proposal aims to further reduce rates.
If accepted, the revised rates could enable ISPs to lower bandwidth prices by BDT 50-75 per Mbps across various tiers, ultimately reducing internet costs for end-users.
IIGAB President Aminul Hakim stated, “This initiative aims to increase internet penetration at grassroots levels and support affordable access, aligning with government objectives to reduce internet costs.”
BTRC Chairman Emdad- Ul Bari emphasized that reducing internet prices is essential for expanding digital services, adding that the involvement of private sectors will facilitate bandwidth cost reductions.
