The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has rescinded its directive to remove cache servers from local Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Consequently, ISPs, mobile operators, and National Internet Exchanges (NICs) can now install cache servers in compliance with existing guidelines and licensing policies alongside International Internet Gateways (IIGs).
To enhance internet speed, a BTRC order signed by Deputy Director SM Golam Sarwar on Monday outlined requirements for cache server installation. Operators must submit agreements with server providers and suppliers, details of the server’s specifications (such as number, brand, model, and capacity), installation location with latitude and longitude, and email copies of provider consent and approval.
Additionally, operators must obtain a “No Objection Certificate” from BTRC before importing cache servers. After installation, they are required to report the server’s IP address, ASN, and related Data Information System (DIS) details to the commission. Prior approval is mandatory for replacing, relocating, or upgrading servers.
This decision was welcomed by stakeholders, including Aminul Hakim, President of the Internet Infrastructure Association of Bangladesh (IIGAB). Rakibul Hasan, a former BTRC director general and technology expert, praised the initiative but highlighted inefficiencies in the current approval process. He said, “The time wasted in the document process at various places, including applications to several government agencies and the non-objection of that paper to bring this machine to Bangladesh, is unnecessary.” Hasan suggested adopting a streamlined system: “There is a method called Global Perspective A Type Approval. When the same goods are imported by several companies, separate No Objection Certificates are not required. If the document is processed at one place (single window), it will automatically go as input to other agencies.”
Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan, General Secretary of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), stated that this decision would decentralize internet services and restore real-time internet quality for 180 million users. Similarly, Mohiuddin Ahmed, President of the Mobile Consumers Association, noted its potential to reduce inequalities within the sector.
Background and Historical Context
Cache servers, which store frequently accessed data locally, significantly reduce bandwidth consumption and improve internet speeds. As of 2022, Bangladesh hosted 1,622 legal cache servers, primarily supporting major platforms like Google, Facebook, and YouTube. However, these were centralized under IIG control, creating inefficiencies and controversies.
The former BTRC chairman Shyam Sundar Sikdar leveraged cache servers to block online content during national emergencies, gaining control of over 2,000 servers, both legal and illegal. This centralized control became a point of public outrage when internet shutdowns were enacted during political unrest earlier this year, with widespread criticism directed at policymakers.
Despite their advantages, cache servers are not without drawbacks. While they enhance internet speed and reduce international bandwidth dependency, they can cause delays in live updates and fill up hard drive space due to cached data. Moreover, they pose privacy risks as user activities can be tracked through cached information.
