Telecommunications in Bangladesh explained

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]

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

See also: List of telecommunications companies of Bangladesh.

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:

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. https://www.amtob.org.bd/home/industrystatics

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. Mir Telecom LTD
  2. 1Asia Alliance Gateway
  3. Bangladesh International Gateway
  4. Bangla Tel Ltd
  5. Bangla Trac Communications
  6. BG Tel
  7. BTCL
  8. Cel Telecom
  9. DBL Telecom
  10. DigiCon Telecommunications
  11. First Communications
  12. Global Voice Telecom
  13. HRC Technologies
  14. LR Telecom Ltd.
  15. Kay Telecommunications
  16. Mos5 Tel
  17. NovoTel Limited
  18. Platinum Communications Ltd
  19. RanksTel
  20. Ratul Telecom
  21. Roots Communication
  22. SM Communication
  23. SongBird Telecom (formerly Hamid Sourcing)[10]
  24. Telex
  25. Vision Tel
  26. Venus Telecom LTD

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. CloudTel
  8. GAZI Networks Ltd
  9. GETCO ICX
  10. Imam Network Ltd.
  11. Jibondhara ICX
  12. Ring Tech Communications Limited
  13. MicroTrade ICX
  14. Mother Telecommunication
  15. New Generation Telecom Ltd
  16. Paradise ICX
  17. Purple Telecom Limited
  18. Crossworld Telecom Ltd.
  19. SR Telecom
  20. Sheba
  21. Softex Communications Ltd.
  22. Tele Exchange Ltd.
  23. Teleplus Network Ltd
  24. Voicetel Ltd.
  25. Bantel Limited.
  26. Sengupta 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:

  1. Systems Solutions & Development Technologies Limited[SSD-TECH]. (prefix-09642)
  2. MetroNet Bangladesh Ltd. (prefix-09612)
  3. Icon Infotech Ltd. (prefix-09644)
  4. Amber IT Ltd. (prefix-09611)
  5. Telnet Communication Ltd.
  6. Link3 Technologies Ltd. (prefix-09678)
  7. BDCOM Online Ltd. (prefix-09666)
  8. Access Telecom (BD) Ltd. (prefix-09622)
  9. ADN Telecom Ltd. (formerly Advanced Data Network Systems Ltd) (prefix-09610)
  10. Agni Systems Ltd. (prefix-09606)
  11. Rightsoft Systems.
  12. Akceycom Ltd.
  13. Akij Online Ltd.
  14. Bangladesh Export Import Company Ltd.
  15. Bangladesh Internet Exchange Ltd.
  16. BEXIMCO AND SQUARE (prefix-09609)
  17. BRACNet Ltd. (prefix-09677)
  18. Broad Band Telecom Services Ltd.
  19. BTS Communications (BD) Ltd., branded as UbernetBD
  20. Carnival Internet
  21. Communication One (Pvt.) Ltd.
  22. Connect BD Ltd.
  23. Cyber Net Communications
  24. dhakaCom Ltd. (prefix-09611)
  25. Digital Connectivity Ltd.
  26. ERGO Ventures Ltd.
  27. Global Access Ltd.
  28. HRC Technologies Ltd.
  29. Idea Networks And Communications Ltd.
  30. IDS Bangladesh
  31. Information Services Network Ltd.
  32. Innovative Online Ltd.
  33. InterCloud Ltd.
  34. IS PROS Ltd.
  35. MaxNet Online
  36. Manor IT Ltd.
  37. Link3 Technologies Ltd. (prefix-09678)
  38. Nreach Net (Pvt.) Ltd.
  39. Pritty International (Pvt) Ltd.
  40. Ranks ITT Ltd.
  41. Royal Green Online Ltd.
  42. X-Net Ltd.
  43. TeleBangla Communications Ltd.
  44. RED Data (Pvt) Ltd.
  45. Triangle Services LTD
  46. Premium Connectivity Limited
  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.
  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

See main article: List of radio stations in Bangladesh. 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:

Television

See main article: List of television stations in Bangladesh. 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

See main article: Internet in Bangladesh. 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. 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:

Satellite

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]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.btcl.gov.bd/pages/10/history Chronological Development of Telecommunication
  2. News: Bangladesh Enters 3G Era, Putting Telecom Growth on Fast Track . Fox Business . 14 October 2012 . 4 November 2012.
  3. News: Teletalk Launches Bangladesh's First 3G Network . Cellular News . 15 October 2012 . 4 November 2012.
  4. Robi sets sail as the Merged Company. Robi.
  5. News: bn:ফোরজি সেবা পেতে যা করতে হবে . http://www.prothomalo.com/technology/article/1434296/%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87. . 18 February 2018 . bn . 21 February 2018.
  6. http://www.btrc.gov.bd/policy/Telecom_Policy_1998.pdf National Telecommunications Policy 1998
  7. http://www.btrc.gov.bd/newsandevents/pstn_phone_subscribers/pstn_phone_subscribers_february_2009.php Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
  8. Web site: Mobile Phone Subscribers in Bangladesh April 2015 . BTRC . 23 June 2020.
  9. http://www.btrc.gov.bd/newsandevents/mobile_phone_subscribers/mobile_phone_subscribers_february_2009.php Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
  10. Web site: Songbird Telecom Limited. www.songbirdtelecom.com. 11 August 2015.
  11. http://www.btrc.gov.bd/licensing/operators/iptsp/iptsp.pdf Internet Protocol Telephony Service Provider (IPTSP)
  12. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/31/content_7343711.htm Xinhua
  13. http://www.ispabd.org/news.php ISPs association Bangladesh
  14. https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSDHA15446520090506
    1. BD mobile Internet Usage Stats
  15. Web site: Internet users (per 100 people) | Data | Table . Data.worldbank.org . 17 May 2013.
  16. Web site: Roundup: Internet use on rise in Bangladesh . iStockAnalyst . 18 July 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100503043842/http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/4072376 . 3 May 2010 . dmy-all .
  17. News: Internet subscribers may reach 18.3m by 2020 . The Financial Express . Dhaka . 22 January 2010 . 9 April 2015.
  18. Web site: spumail . Birth of Broadband – Frequently Asked Questions . Itu.int . 4 April 2011 . 17 May 2013.
  19. Web site: Home . Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL).

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