The liberalization of Bangladesh's telecommunications sector began with small steps in 1989 with the issuance of a license to a private operator for the provision of inter alia cellular mobile services to compete with Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB), the previous monopoly provider of telecommunications services within Bangladesh. Significant changes in the number of fixed and mobile services deployed in Bangladesh occurred in the late 1990s and the number of services in operation has subsequently grown exponentially in the past five years.

The incentives both from the government and public sectors have helped the industry grow and it is now one of the biggest industries in Bangladesh. As a populous country, its huge market has attracted many foreign investors.

Telecommunication

The telecom sector in Bangladesh is rapidly emerging. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is the regulatory authority for this sector, overseeing licensing, policy, etc.

The calling code of Bangladesh is +880. There are also several SubCodes.

History

Landmarks in the history of the telecom industry in Bangladesh:^[1]

• 1853:
• 1971: Reconstructed as Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Department under the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
• 1975: Reconstructed as Telegraph and Telephone Board.
• 1979: Reconstructed as Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) with the right to issue licenses for telecom and wireless services.
• 1981: Digital Telex Exchange in Bangladesh.
• 1983: Automatic Digital ITX started in Dhaka.
• 1985: Coinbox Telephone service was introduced in Bangladesh by BTTB.
• 1989: GENTEX Telegraph messaging service introduced in Bangladesh.
• 1989: Bangladesh Rural Telecom Authority got a license to operate exchanges in 200 Upazila.
• 1989: Sheba Telecom got license to operate exchange in 199 Upazila.
• 1989: Cellular mobile phone company Pacific Bangladesh Telephone Limited and Bangladesh Telecom got license.
• 1995: Card Telephone service introduced in Bangladesh by BTTB and TSS.
• 1995: Regulatory power of BTTB transferred to Ministry (MoPT).
• 1995: 2nd and 3rd ITX installed in Dhaka.
• 1996: GrameenPhone got cellular mobile Telephone license.
• 1996: Telecom Malaysia International Bangladesh got cellular mobile license.
• 1998: Telecom Policy.
• 2000: Global Telecom Service (GTS) Telex Exchange venture with British Teleco.
• 2001: Telecommunication Act, to establish Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
• 2002: ICT Policy.
• 2004: Teletalk (BTTB bMobile) cellular mobile launched.
• 2005: Egypt-based Orascom acquired Sheba Telecom
• 2006: NGN introduced in BTTB.
• 2008: BTTB converted into Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) with 100% shares owned by Government. The Submarine Cable Project transformed into Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL)
• 2008: Japanese NTT DoCoMo bought 30 percent stake in Aktel
• 2009: Bharti Airtel acquired 70 percent stake in Warid Telecom
• 2009: Internet Protocol Telephony Service Provider (IPTSP) Operators launched.
• 2010: Aktel rebranded to Robi Axiata Limited
• 2012: 3G mobile service is introduced by state owned Teletalk in October.^[2][3]
• 2013: 3G auction held for private companies
• 2014: 64 districts covered with 3G by Teletalk, Grameenphone, Banglalink and Robi
• 2016: Robi and Airtel were merged on 16 November 2016 and Robi set sail as the merged company.^[4]
• 2018: 4G auction held for private companies
• 2018: on 19 February 4G mobile service is introduced^[5]
• 2021: on 12 December 5G mobile service is introduced by TeleTalk
• 2022: on 17 March Unlimited Validity Data service is introduced by TeleTalk
• 2022: On 31 March 5G auction held for all Telecom companies
• 2023 : On 01 November, Teletalk & Banglalink jointly introduced first National Roaming Network with 20,600 Tower in Bangladesh

Structure

As defined in the National Telecommunications Policy 1998 and International Long-Distance Telecommunications Services (ILDTS) Policy 2007, all mobile operators are to interconnect through Interconnection Exchange (ICX) and all international calls to be handled by International Gateway (IGW) which is to be connected to the mobile and fixed operators through the ICXs.

The Interconnection Exchange (ICX) will receive all calls from the mobile and fixed operators whenever the call is made to another network and will pass it to the destination network if the call is local ,and will pass to the IGWs if the call is international. ICX will also deliver calls received from IGWs where the call is destined.^[6]

Below illustrate the structure of interconnection between different interfaces.

Service providers

Public switched telephone network

The number of public switched telephone network (PSTN) subscribers in Bangladesh as of February 2009 was 1.372 million.^[7] PSTN operators in Bangladesh include:

• Banglaphone Ltd.
• BTCL
• Integrated Services Limited (ISL) – branded under the name Sheba Phone
• Jalalabad Telecom Ltd. – branded under the name Bijoy Phone
• Onetel Communication Ltd.
• Ranks Telecom Ltd.
• S.A Telecom System Ltd.
• Westec Ltd.
• WorldTel
• Lenova.com.bd
• Dhaka Telephone Co. Ltd. – Currently off the air, License canceled by BTRC
• National Telecom Ltd. – Currently off the air, License canceled by BTRC
• Peoples Telecommunication and Information Services Ltd. – Currently off the air, License canceled by BTRC
• Tele Barta Ltd. – branded under the name Jubok phone – Currently off air

Mobile phone operators

There are four mobile phone operators in Bangladesh, operating under the names of Banglalink, Grameenphone, Robi and TeleTalk. The number of mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh as of April 2015 was 124.705 million,^[8] having risen from the February 2009 figure of 45.21 million.^[9] As of September, 2022 the number of mobile phone subscriber has risen to 181.43 Million. [1]

Long distance operators (as per ILDTS Policy 2007)

On 25 February 2008 the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission awarded licenses for two Interconnection Exchanges (ICX), three International Gateways (IGm), and one International Internet Gateway (IIG) to six firms through an open auction in February 2008. The incumbent BTTB got the same licenses too. And after then on 12 April 2012, the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission awarded licenses for twenty-one Interconnection Exchanges (ICX), twenty two International Gateways (IGw), and thirty International Internet Gateway (IIG). Here is the list of all operators:

International Gateway (IGW) operators

1. Tech Panacea
2. Mir Telecom LTD
3. 1Asia Alliance Gateway
4. Bangladesh International Gateway
5. Bangla Tel Ltd
6. Bangla Trac Communications
7. Bestec Telecom
8. BG Tel
9. BTCL
10. Cel Telecom
11. DBL Telecom
12. DigiCon Telecommunications
13. First Communications
14. Global Voice Telecom
15. HRC Technologies
16. Hub Tel
17. LR Telecom Ltd.
18. Lenova.xyz
19. Kay Telecommunications
20. Mos5 Tel
21. NovoTel Limited
22. Platinum Communications Ltd
23. RanksTel
24. Ratul Telecom
25. Roots Communication
26. Rimly IT Solutions (Added Recently)
27. SM Communication
28. SongBird Telecom (formerly Hamid Sourcing)^[10]
29. SVM Telecom LP
30. Telex
31. Unitrac Communications
32. Vision Tel
33. Venus Telecom LTD
34. Carrier Voice UK LTD
35. Rimly IT Solutions

Interconnection Exchange (ICX) operators

1. M & H Telecom LTD
2. Jibondhara Solutions Ltd.
3. Summit ICX
4. BTCL
5. Bangla ICX Ltd.
6. Agni ICX
7. Apex Communication Pvt Ltd
8. Carnival
9. CloudTel
10. GAZI Networks Ltd
11. GETCO ICX
12. Imam Network Ltd.
13. Jibondhara ICX
14. Ring Tech Communications Limited
15. MicroTrade ICX
16. Mother Telecom
17. New Generation Telecom Ltd
18. Paradise ICX
19. Purple Telecom Limited
20. Crossworld Telecom Ltd.
21. SR Telecom
22. Sheba
23. Softex
24. Tele Exchange Ltd.
25. Teleplus Network Ltd
26. Verterx Telecom
27. Voicetel Ltd.
28. Bantel Limited.
29. Sengupta Telecom
30. Jaiyanta Telecom

International Internet Gateway (IIG) operator

1. Aamra Companies
2. 1Asia Alliance Communication
3. Abir Telecommunication
4. Apple Communication
5. Bangla Phone Ltd
6. bdHUB
7. BD Link Communication Ltd
8. BSCCL
9. BTCL
10. Cybergate
11. Delta Infocom
12. Earth Telecommunication
13. Equitel Communications
14. Fiber @ Home
15. Global Fair Communications
16. Greenland Technologies
17. Intraglobe Communications
18. Level3 Carrier
19. ADN International Gateway Limited. Formerly Managewell Communication Ltd
20. Mango Teleservices
21. MaxNet Online
22. NovoCom
23. PeerEx Networks Limited
24. REGO Communications
25. CiTYCOM NETWORK
26. Summit Communications Limited

Internet Protocol Telephony Service Provider (IPTSP) operators

On 18 August 2009, the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission commenced awarding licenses for IPTSP. IPTSP operators are regulated by the BTRC.^[11] Current IPTSP operators in Bangladesh are:

• Nationwide:

1. MetroNet Bangladesh Ltd. (prefix-09612)
2. Icon Infotech Ltd. (prefix-09644)
3. Amber IT Ltd. (prefix-09611)
4. Telnet Communication Ltd.
5. Link3 Technologies Ltd. (prefix-09678)
6. BDCOM Online Ltd. (prefix-09666)
7. Access Telecom (BD) Ltd. (prefix-09622)
8. ADN Telecom Ltd. (formerly Advanced Data Network Systems Ltd) (prefix-09610)
9. Agni Systems Ltd. (prefix-09606)
10. Rightsoft Systems.
11. Akceycom Ltd.
12. Akij Online Ltd.
13. Bangladesh Export Import Company Ltd.
14. Bangladesh Internet Exchange Ltd.
15. BEXIMCO AND SQUARE (prefix-09609)
16. BRACNet Ltd. (prefix-09677)
17. Broad Band Telecom Services Ltd.
18. BTS Communications (BD) Ltd., branded as UbernetBD
19. Carnival Internet
20. Communication One (Pvt.) Ltd.
21. Connect BD Ltd.
22. Cyber Net Communications
23. dhakaCom Ltd. (prefix-09611)
24. Digital Connectivity Ltd.
25. ERGO Ventures Ltd.
26. Global Access Ltd.
27. HRC Technologies Ltd.
28. Idea Networks And Communications Ltd.
29. IDS Bangladesh
30. Information Services Network Ltd.
31. Innovative Online Ltd.
32. InterCloud Ltd.
33. IS PROS Ltd.
34. MaxNet Online
35. Manor IT Ltd.
36. Link3 Technologies Ltd. (prefix-09678)
37. Nreach Net (Pvt.) Ltd.
38. Pritty International (Pvt) Ltd.
39. Ranks ITT Ltd.
40. Royal Green Online Ltd.
41. X-Net Ltd.
42. TeleBangla Communications Ltd.
43. RED Data (Pvt) Ltd.
44. Triangle Services LTD
45. Premium Connectivity Limited

• Central:

1. Fusion Net
2. Grameen Cybernet Ltd.
3. IT Connect Ltd.
4. J F Optical Services
5. M/s. Media & Multimedia
6. Next Online Ltd. (Nextfone)
7. SADIATEC Ltd.
8. Sine-10 (BD) Ltd.

• Zonal/Divisional:

1. Chittagong Online Ltd.
2. Chittagong Telecom Services Ltd.
3. First n Fast IT Ltd.
4. HN TELECOM
5. SpeedLinks

International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) operator

1. 1Asia Alliance Communication
2. BD Link Communication Ltd
3. Fiber @ Home
4. Mango Teleservices
5. NovoCom
6. Summit Communications

Radio

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2, community radio 1, internet radios

Radios: 6.15 million (1997)

The government-owned Betar-Radio Bangladesh operates from Dhaka and other local districts. Currently, private FM radio channels are very popular. They are trying to attract young people by broadcasting music and news. The operating private radio channels include:

• dhakaFM 90.4 FM
• Radio Amber 102.4 FM
• Radio Today 89.6 FM
• Radio Foorti 88.0 FM
• Radio Amar 88.4 FM
• ABC Radio 89.2 FM
• Peoples Radio 91.6 FM

Television

As of 2012, there are 23 broadcast television stations in Bangladesh, including the state-run BTV and BTV World, with 20 million television sets in the country.

The number of private satellite channels are growing. The first private channel in Bangladesh was ATN Bangla. There are 8 full-fledged news channels (ATN News, Channel 24, DBC News, Ekattor, Independent Television, Jamuna Television, News24 and Somoy TV).

Internet

The first connectivity in Bangladesh with the internet was in 1996. In the past few years, growth has been rapid. The government's high internet tariff is impeding the growth of this sector, claims Norwegian-owned Telenor. ^{[citation needed]} Recently the government has decided to reduce the tariff by 50%.^[12]

The internet country code of Bangladesh is .bd.

As of 2005 more than 180 Internet Service Providers are operating in the country.^[13] ISP's are regulated by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

The number of internet users in Bangladesh as of March 2009 is over 600,000, compared to 100,000 in 2000.^[14] However, only 0.3% of the population use the internet, thus making Bangladesh the lowest usage percentage per population of the internet in the world with the exception of North Korea, Myanmar and Sierra Leone.^[15]

In April 2010 Akhtaruzzaman Manju, president of the Internet Service Providers' Association of Bangladesh, told Xinhua that the country's six cell phone operators and Internet Service Providers have so far provided over 800,000 internet connections. "We've estimated that nearly 10 million people in the country are using 800,000 internet connections on a shared basis," he said, adding the number of internet users in the country is increasing yearly by around 15-16 percent.^[16]

A 2009 study by the Boston Consulting Group found that the number of Internet subscribers in Bangladesh is likely to reach 18.3 million by the year 2020, equivalent to a 32 percent household Internet penetration, which will result in a 2.6 percent contribution to the country's GDP while creating 129,000 more jobs, the research added.^[17]

Broadband Internet access

Though broadband internet access is available, the cost of high-speed connection is higher than in other south Asian countries. Broadband internet and e-commerce in Bangladesh is progressing slowly. WiMAX service is now available from some internet service providers. In Bangladesh broadband is legally defined as 128/128 kbit/s, which is not in line with ITU standards.^[18]

The ISPs currently providing broadband services in Bangladesh are:

• Banglalion
• Infocom Limited
• InfoLink

International

There are 6 satellite Earth stations. Talimabad, Betbunia are two of them. Some info shows that the number is now 7. Bangladesh has sent its first ever satellite Bangabandhu-1 into space on May 11, 2018.

Submarine cables

Bangladesh is connected to SEA-ME-WE 4 or SMW-4 (South-East Asia – Middle East – Western Europe 4) and SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine cable systems. The landing site of the SMW-4 Bangladesh branch is located in Cox's Bazar and the landing site of the SMW-5 Bangladesh branch is located in Kuakata. The two submarine cables provide the country with redundancy to support uninterrupted internet and long-distance communications and also with a huge bandwidth. Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited is the only submarine cable operator in Bangladesh.^[19]