Bangladesh - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

Bangladesh's economic resurgence over the last decade took a battering in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The country had been on track to move off the United Nation's Least Developed Countries list by 2026, however the crisis may have pushed that back a few years.

The telecommunications sector experienced its own set of challenges during this period, with mobile data usage exploding at the same time as many consumers were being forced to curb their spending in other areas. The demand on data grew so large and so rapidly that Bangladesh came close to running out of bandwidth. At the start of 2020, Bangladesh was consuming around 900Gb/s on average, well below the 2,642GB/s capacity of its submarine cables. This ballooned to over 2,300Gb/s during the pandemic. Bangladesh was looking forward to adding 7,200Gb/s capacity when the SEA-ME-WE-6 submarine cable goes into service in mid-2024, but the sudden upsurge in downloads is forcing state-run company Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) to scramble to find alternatives before the country's internet supply is maxed out.

The increased demand during the Covid-19 crisis also put pressure on the country's existing mobile networks, already under strain as a result of strong growth in the mobile broadband market coupled with significant untapped potential for mobile services in general across the country. This led to premium prices being paid at auction for spectrum in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands, most of which will be used to enhance and expand LTE services. A 5G spectrum auction had been anticipated for 2020, but low interest from the MNOs in going down that path when there are still so many areas waiting for LTE access means that 5G rollouts will likely be deferred until 2023.

Key Developments:

Three of Bangladesh's four MNOs (Grameenphone, Robi, and Banglalink) successfully bid for additional spectrum in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands, in what may be one of the most expensive spectrum auctions in the world.

2020's planned 5G spectrum auction has been delayed, with commercial services now not expected to start before 2023.

Regulatory action against Grameenphone and Robi over outstanding dues and taxes has dragged on for another year, with Supreme Court rulings going against the operators being subject to further appeal in the High Court.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) threw beleaguered state-run mobile operator Teletalk a lifeline, approving BDT22.04 billion in funding to expand and modernise its network to be ready for 5G.

The Bangladesh government signed a $500 million financing deal with the World Bank, part of which will be used to install fibre cables along the 48km Jashore-Jhenaidah highway to enhance connectivity in rural areas.

Bangladesh's second satellite, Bangabandhu Satellite-2, is on track to be launched in 2023, doubling existing capacity and extending coverage to the country's more remote areas.

This report includes the regulator's market data reports and telcos' financial and operating data updates to June 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), Grameenphone; Banglalink, Robi, Teletalk, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL).

Key statistics

Regional Asian market comparison

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authorities
- Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC)
- Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications & Information Technology
Fixed-line developments
- 2001 Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Act
- 2006 Information and Communication Technology Act
- 2010 Telecommunication (Amendment) Act
- 2012 Competition Act
- Expanded Licensing Regime
- Infrastructure Sharing
- Directives on Service and Tariffs
Mobile network developments
- Surcharge on mobile usage
- Monitoring
- 2019 budget proposal for the telecom sector
- SIM registration
- Spectrum
- Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
- Licensing

Mobile market

Mobile infrastructure
- 5G
- 4G 9LTE)
- 3G
Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators
- Grameenphone
- Banglalink
- Robi
- Teletalk
- Historic - CityCell

Fixed-line broadband market

Broadband statistics
Fixed broadband service providers
Fixed-line broadband technologies
- Fibre-To-The-Premises (FttP)
- Fixed wireless
- WiMAX and fixed-wireless broadband rollouts
- Wi-Fi

Telecommunications infrastructure

National telecom network
Fibre networks
Next Generation Networks (NGNs)
National Internet Exchange (NIX) Licenses
Grameen Telecom's Village Project
International infrastructure
- Satellite
- Submarine
- International gateways
Smart infrastructure

Digital Economy

Digital Bangladesh - 2021
e-commerce
e-payments
m-commerce
Tele-education

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - 2021 (e)
Table 2 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 3 - Growth in mobile market revenue - 2010 - 2019
Table 4 - Growth in investment (CAPEX) by mobile operators - 2010 - 2019
Table 5 - Percentage of the population covered by mobile infrastructure by technology - 2010 - 2019
Table 6 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 7 - Mobile subscribers by operator (million) - 2012 - 2021
Table 8 - Mobile subscriber market share by operator - 2012 - 2021
Table 9 - Growth in the number of Grameenphone's mobile subscribers - 2009 - 2021
Table 10 - Development of Grameenphone's mobile revenue - 2012 - 2021
Table 11 - Development of Grameenphone's mobile ARPU (BDT / user / month) - 2012 - 2021
Table 12 - Development of Grameenphone's financial data (NOK billion) - 2009 - 2021
Table 13 - Development of Grameenphone's mobile traffic - 2012 - 2021
Table 14 - Change in the number of Banglalink's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 15 - Development of Banglalink's mobile revenue - 2012 - 2021
Table 16 - Development in Banglalink's capex - 2015 - 2021
Table 17 - Development in Banglalink's ARPU (BDT) - 2012 - 2021
Table 18 - Development in Banglalink's ARPU ($) - 2011 - 2021
Table 19 - Development of Banglalink's mobile traffic - 2011 - 2021
Table 20 - Development in Banglalink's financial data ($ million) - 2011 - 2021
Table 21 - Growth in the number of Robi's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 22 - Development of Robi's revenue - 2011 - 2021
Table 23 - Change in Robi's blended ARPU (BDT / user /month) - 2013 - 2021
Table 24 - Development of Robi's capex - 2013 - 2021
Table 25 - Change in the number of Teletalk's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Table 26 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Table 27 - Decline in the number of WiMAX subscribers - 2012 - 2020
Table 28 - Growth in the number of internet subscribers (million) - 2012 - 2021
Table 29 - Change in the number of fixed lines and teledensity- 2011 - 2026
Table 31 - Growth in international internet bandwidth - 2011 - 2019
Table 32 - Lit/Equipped international bandwidth capacity - 2014 - 2019
Table 33 - Historic - Mobile subscribers - 1996 - 2005
Table 34 - Historic - Grameenphone mobile subscribers - 1998 - 2010
Table 35 - Historic - Banglalink mobile subscribers - 2002 - 2010
Table 36 - Historic - Robi Axiata mobile subscribers - 2005 - 2010
Table 37 - Historic - Airtel Bangladesh subscribers - 2007 - 2010
Table 38 - Historic - CityCell mobile subscribers - 1999 - 2010
Table 39 - Historic Total international internet bandwidth - 1998 - 2010
Table 40 - Historic - Fixed-line subscribers by operator - 2010 - 2011; 2013 - 2015
Table 41 - Historic - FttP broadband subscribers - 2009 - 2016
Table 42 - Historic - BTCL fixed-line subscribers - 2010 - 2016
Table 43 - Historic - fixed-line subscribers and penetration - 1995 - 2010
Table 44 - Historic - Bangladesh optical fibre network - 2016
Table 45 - Historic - Growth in total market revenue - 2002 - 2010
Table 46 - Historic - Change in the number of Teletalk's mobile subscribers - 2005 - 2010

List of Charts

Chart 1 - Asian Telecoms Maturity Index by Market Category
Chart 2 - Asian Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 -Telecoms Maturity Index - Central Asia
Chart 4 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 5 - Growth in mobile market revenue - 2010 - 2019
Chart 6 - Growth in investment (CAPEX) by mobile operators - 2010 - 2019
Chart 7 - Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 8 - Mobile subscribers by operator - 2012 - 2021
Chart 9 - Mobile subscriber market share by operator - 2012 - 2021
Chart 10 - Growth in the number of Grameenphone's mobile subscribers - 2009 - 2021
Chart 11 - Development of Grameenphone's mobile revenue - 2012 - 2021
Chart 12 - Development of Grameenphone's mobile ARPU - 2012 - 2021
Chart 13 - Development of Grameenphone's financial data (NOK billion) - 2009 - 2021
Chart 14 - Development of Grameenphone's mobile traffic - 2012 - 2021
Chart 15 - Change in the number of Banglalink's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Chart 16 - Development of Banglalink's mobile revenue - 2012 - 2021
Chart 17 - Development in Banglalink's capex - 2015 - 2021
Chart 18 - Development in Banglalink's ARPU - 2012 - 2021
Chart 19 - Development in Banglalink's ARPU ($) - 2011 - 2021
Chart 20 - Development in Banglalink's mobile traffic - 2011 - 2021
Chart 21 - Development in Banglalink's financial data ($ million) - 2011 - 2021
Chart 22 - Growth in the number of Robi's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Chart 23 - Development of Robi's mobile revenue - 2011 - 2021
Chart 24 - Change in Robi's mobile ARPU - 2013 - 2021
Chart 25 - Development of Robi's capex - 2013 - 2021
Chart 26 - Change in the number of Teletalk's mobile subscribers - 2011 - 2021
Chart 27 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration - 2011 - 2026
Chart 28 - Decline in the number of WiMAX subscribers - 2012 - 2020
Chart 29 - Growth in the number of internet subscribers - 2012 - 2021
Chart 30 - Change in the number of fixed lines and teledensity- 2011 - 2026

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 - Key Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 - Central Asia - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 - Mobile operators in Bangladesh
Exhibit 4 - Mobile operators by system

Bangladesh - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Description

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Bangladesh reaches peak internet capacity during Covid-19 pandemic

Key Developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Table of Contents

Key statistics

Regional Asian market comparison

Country overview

Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Telecommunications infrastructure

Digital Economy

Appendix - Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

List of Tables

List of Charts

List of Exhibits