Bangladesh is confronting a severe internet bandwidth shortage, a situation expected to become more critical as early as 2023. The Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL), the national bandwidth provider, has not clarified how this issue will be addressed, raising concerns about the future of internet connectivity in the country.
BSCCL operates as the country’s primary international long-distance communications and internet gateway (IIG) provider, utilizing submarine cables based in Bangladesh. While there is hope that the arrival of the SEA-ME-WE-6 submarine cable in mid-2024 will alleviate some of the bandwidth constraints, the current bandwidth availability is set to expire by 2022, potentially leading to two years of significant scarcity.
The surge in internet usage, which has increased by 20-25% as people spend 6-8 hours online daily during the COVID-19 pandemic (compared to 2 hours before), has significantly strained bandwidth resources. Imdadul Haque, director of Optimax Communication, notes that this growing demand will continue to exert pressure on bandwidth supplies.
Despite the looming crisis, BSCCL has yet to announce concrete plans for resolving the situation. Options include expanding the capacity of the existing SEA-ME-WE-4 and SEA-ME-WE-5 cables, or potentially acquiring unused bandwidth from other countries participating in these cable networks.
International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) operators, who import bandwidth from abroad, claim to have unlimited capacity. However, this is contingent upon the availability of bandwidth from Indian submarine cables, which could face its own limitations.
If bandwidth shortages persist, broadband and mobile internet users will experience increased costs and disrupted digital services, including virtual classes, meetings, and e-commerce activities. Brig Gen SM Farhad (retd.), secretary general of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB), highlights that 94% of internet users in Bangladesh rely on mobile internet, making any reduction in bandwidth particularly impactful.
ITC operators in Bangladesh, including Fiber @ Home, Summit Communications Limited, and NovoCom, are exploring options to fill the bandwidth gap by sourcing from India. However, this may lead to increased bandwidth prices, affecting overall internet costs and industry revenue.
BSCCL is planning to enhance the capacity of SEA-ME-WE-4 and SEA-ME-WE-5 cables, aiming to increase the total bandwidth capacity to 2,500 Gbps by 2022. The SEA-ME-WE-6 cable, expected to add 7,200 Gbps, will also contribute to alleviating the bandwidth strain.
Despite these efforts, current bandwidth usage in Bangladesh is approaching the total available capacity, with BSCCL and ITC operators providing a combined total of 2,641.632 Gbps, while consumption is at 2,367.89 Gbps.
Looking forward, BSCCL anticipates that bandwidth demand will continue to rise, potentially reaching 2,400-3,500 Gbps in the next two years. The company is working to expand capacity but acknowledges that they cannot meet the demand alone.
Given these challenges, some industry experts suggest granting licenses to private companies for establishing new submarine cables. This could provide a more robust solution to the ongoing bandwidth scarcity and future-proof Bangladesh’s internet infrastructure.
As the country navigates these issues, it is crucial for all stakeholders, including BSCCL, ITC operators, and regulatory bodies, to collaborate effectively to ensure a steady and affordable supply of bandwidth for Bangladesh’s growing digital needs.
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