Bangladesh tops 100 million internet subscribers

[The Ronin]

Active internet connections in Bangladesh have crossed the landmark of 100 million following a surge by 3.26 million in March, according to the telecom regulator.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) unveiled the latest data till March on Thursday.

Industry insiders said the number of fixed broadband connections has increased tremendously by 40.76 percent in March and reached 80.84 lakh due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

By the end of March, the total number of active connections was 103.2 million, which was 99.9 million previously in February this year, which means around 60 percent of the country's population had access to internet by then.

In the last six months, the internet service industry has seen ups and downs -- if this were not the case, the 100 million landmark would have been achieved possibly a few months ago, according to reports from the telecom regulator.

The total number of active internet connections in the country reached 90 million back in August 2018, while it stood at 80 million in November just the year before.

Bangladesh hit 70 million internet users in April 2017 while in March 2016, the number had been just 60 million.

Of the total number of active internet connections, mobile carriers control the lion's share with 92.17 percent or 95.2 million users.

Meanwhile, Wi-Max operators are trudging on with their 2,000 active internet connections, read the BTRC report.

https://www.daily-sun.com/post/482011/Active-internet-connections-100-million
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/05/14/bangladesh-tops-100-million-internet-subscribers
https://en.prothomalo.com/science-technology/mobile-internet-users-cross-100m-btrc
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/...n-bd-near-100m-official-data-shows-1564473075
https://bdnews24.com/technology/2020/05/14/bangladesh-internet-users-cross-100-million

 

[Bilal9]

More info...

Bangladesh prepares for 5G launches
Bangladesh ranks among the most densely populated countries globally. However, economic constraints over the last few decades has resulted in under-investment in network infrastructure, with the result that the country has an under-developed fixed-line market, with the fixed-line penetration rate being the lowest in South Asia.

Related to the poor fixed-line infrastructure is the very low fixed broadband penetration rate, a situation compounded by the preference among consumers to adopt mobile broadband solutions for their data needs. To address these shortcomings the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the revival of the NGN modernisation project to be undertaken by Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL). In the years to 2024 steady growth is expected to arise from these efforts.

Bangladesh’s mobile market is also relatively under-developed, though it has experienced strong growth over the last six years. Operators have trialled 5G and the BTRC is expected to auction spectrum for 5G services before the end of 2020, aiming to provide national 5G coverage by 2026.

Slow to moderate mobile subscriber growth is predicted in coming years, with constraints to stronger growth coming from intense local competition and from additional taxes in the national budget which are expected to dampen consumer use of services.

Bangladesh has also seen a very rapid increase in mobile broadband penetration over the past five years, though it remains well below most other Asian countries. Growth is being driven by a rising number of mobile subscribers able to access faster download speeds on LTE networks. An unprecedented level of investment among telcos during 2018 and 2019 extended the footprint of LTE infrastructure and laid the groundwork for operators to launch 5G services from 2021.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key Developments:

• The mobile market has seen significant market consolidation over the past few years.
• The first test run of 5G technology in Bangladesh took place in Dhaka.
• The BTRC issued a directive on allowing IoT for smart buildings and automation industries.
• Overall fixed line penetration dropped slightly from 2013 to 2018.
• Strong growth is of mobile broadband subscribers is predicted over the next five years.
• Report update includes an assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector.

Companies mentioned in this report:
Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL); Grameenphone; CityCell (PBTL); Banglalink; Robi; Teletalk; Airtel Bangladesh; Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL).

By the way Internet penetration by actual numbers & % of Population In South Asia (as of 31-JAN-2020), Bangladesh has the highest figure so far (ranking below).

Bangladesh -------------96,199,000 (as of May 2020 over 100 Million)----58.4 %
Nepal---------------------16,190,000--------------------------------------------55.6%
Bhutan--------------------397,499-----------------------------------------------51.5%
India--------------------560,000,000--------------------------------------------40.6%
Pakistan-----------------71,608,065---------------------------------------------32.4%
Sri Lanka-----------------7,169,533----------------------------------------------33.5%

https://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm

 

[Nilgiri]

When you use actual definitions that matter (rather than 95% vote rigging govt stronk ones), things get scaled much more accurately:

https://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users-by-country/

https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx

Both can be compared to BTRAC garbage stat (for same years), that some choose to copy and paste as though thats how its measured in other countries.

 

[Stannis Baratheon]

When you use actual definitions that matter (rather than 95% vote rigging govt stronk ones), things get scaled much more accurately:

https://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users-by-country/

https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx

Both can be compared to BTRAC garbage stat (for same years), that some choose to copy and paste as though thats how its measured in other countries.

And then you put a "garbage" outdated link from 2016.

 

[Nilgiri]

And then you put a "garbage" outdated link from 2016.

Point was to correlate the number there to the BTRAC number the same year.

Want to see what the ratio is?

There is ITU link provided too, please read the excel sheet if you are interested in just how off BTRAC is.

 

[Stannis Baratheon]

There is ITU link provided too, please read the excel sheet if you are interested in just how off BTRAC is.

I don't see Bangladesh there.

 

[Nilgiri]

I don't see Bangladesh there.

Its right there under the excel "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet (excel) "

AFAIK, BTRAC in 2017 was reporting in the 90 million subscriber range that year....thats several multiples of ITU's estimate of 15%

@Major Sam we are in this convo deja vu again

 

[Major Sam]

Its right there under the excel "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet (excel) "

View attachment 632431

AFAIK, BTRAC in 2017 was reporting in the 90 million subscriber range that year....thats several multiples of ITU's estimate of 15%

@Major Sam we are in this convo deja vu again

Yes, i remember that. Though i am not interested in bandwidth usage. Still it tells us about the ground reality.

 

[Bilal9]

And then you put a "garbage" outdated link from 2016.

Just to clarify, mine is from January 2020 and it is VERY RELIABLE. I don't know why this person has to obsess on refuting ANYTHING that shows we're doing better than India, even marginally. Typical Hindutva mouthpiece and narrative...

Yes, i remember that. Though i am not interested in bandwidth usage. Still it tells us about the ground reality.

When one don't visit Bangladesh, how would they know ground reality?

Housemaids and rickshaw-pullers have been using smartphones for two decades in Bangladesh now.

To people outside Bangladesh - this is incredible. To us in Bangladesh, this is everyday fact.

And its really not that big a deal.

BTW- Bangladesh has been supplying bandwidth to NE Indian states and WB for a while now.

 

[mb444]

Internet access is the basis of a knowledge based economy....hoping for more growth in access.

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

Ground reality??? Ground reality is shocking when you see the most searched results for all three countries. Atleast Farmers are benefitting from many online self-help services launched by the GoB on government portals. Meanwhile elsewhere in these "superior" countries .... www.TheLessISayTheBetter.com Delusions of grandeur

 

[Bilal9]

Ground reality??? Ground reality is shocking when you see the most searched results for all three countries. Atleast Farmers are benefitting from many online self-help services launched by the GoB on government portals. Meanwhile elsewhere in these "superior" countries .... www.TheLessISayTheBetter.com Delusions of grandeur

The type some of these Kanjoos people in the cow-belt states are, they probably share one data plan among a dozen people and rotate time between them.

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

The type some of these Kanjoos people in the cow-belt states are, they probably share one data plan among a dozen people and rotate time between them.

Oh yeah or looking up YouTube video like "jio free net" "free electricity" ahahahahah

 

[Bilal9]

Oh yeah or looking up YouTube video like "jio free net" "free electricity" ahahahahah

I did not know you could get free mobile service, free electricity you can get, but risks of getting electrocuted are pretty high...

Where else but cow belt Kanjoosi paradise, can you get a smartphone for about $4?? This is old news though...

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36651700

BTW how did you come up with your handle? Every time I read it, I bust out laughing...

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

I did not know you could get free mobile service, free electricity you can get, but risks of getting electrocuted are pretty high...

Where else but cow belt Kanjoosi paradise, can you get a smartphone for about $4?? This is old news though...

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36651700

BTW how did you come up with your handle? Every time I read it, I bust out laughing...

There is a cellular company in India called Jio and sometime back in 2018 they introduced a free net offer and it was the storm..... Indians everywhere were talking about it. Don't know if the offer is still there but YouTube is loaded with such videos.

What can I say about my username it's true though