FROM PAGE B1

In Bangladesh, internet connectivity begins with international submarine cables and International Terrestrial Cables (ITCs) supplying bandwidth to International Internet Gateways (IIGs) and is distributed to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) through Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Networks (NTTNs). ISPs deliver internet to consumers.

“So, we have also decreased the prices for IIG,” said Bari, previously the director general of the BTRC’s systems and services department.

The commission found that internet bandwidth consumption tripled to 6,036 Gbps between September 2021 and September 2024, increasing the transmission costs charged by NTTNs.

With bandwidth prices falling in the international market, the costs for IIGs and ISPs can also be reduced, ultimately enabling end users to access more affordable internet services.

The commission also found that ITC operators, who are also licensed as IIG operators, sell internet to their subsidiaries at significantly lower rates, creating uneven competition.

The BTRC has directed its Engineering and Operations Division to put an end to this malpractice and ensure unified prices.

Subsequently, the BTRC managed to lower the cost of bandwidth purchased by ISPs from IIGs, the wholesale providers of bandwidth, by 15 to 25 percent.

This has paved the way for lower internet prices at the consumer level.

Starting from July 1, 2025, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) will enforce a new internet tariff applicable to all licensed public and private Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for an initial period of five years.

Unless revised, the tariff will remain in effect with BTRC’s approval. The commission may alter it at any time, considering market demand and consumer interest.