The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced a cap on bandwidth imports from India, limiting it to 50% of the country’s total bandwidth consumption to promote diversified international connectivity.
Bangladesh currently imports around 60% of its internet bandwidth from India through International Internet Gateway (IIG) companies using International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) connections. In response to concerns over over-reliance on a single source, BTRC has set a goal to reduce this figure to 30% while increasing the share of bandwidth supplied through submarine cables to 60%. Bangladesh Submarine Cable PLC (BSCPLC) currently provides 40% of the country’s bandwidth.
The decision follows an amendment to the IIG guidelines, as noted in BTRC documents. The regulator aims to increase the national internet infrastructure’s resilience by promoting alternative international connectivity routes.
BSCPLC is prepared to immediately meet the demand for additional bandwidth, according to Md Ariful Huq, the company’s deputy general manager for sales and marketing.
Additionally, the revised regulations allow IIG operators to maintain up to 10% of their total connected bandwidth as backup via Satellite Earth Station or VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology. This backup capacity is meant to ensure service continuity in the event of issues with terrestrial or submarine cable routes.
IIG operators are required to adhere to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and obtain prior approval from the BTRC to secure backup bandwidth through satellite options.
Liberty News’ national correspondent states that the move reflects Bangladesh’s commitment to diversifying its internet infrastructure and improving overall connectivity stability.
LND/BAIZID
