DHAKA : Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), a long-established government entity in the country’s telecom sector, holds an NTTN (Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network) license but has not been able to effectively establish itself as a leading operator, according to a press release.
Meanwhile, the country’s main NTTN operators—private companies—manage nearly 148,000
kilometers of optical fiber network using DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) equipment.
These private firms have dominated the NTTN sector, providing backbone network services to mobile
operators and internet service providers. However, due to their high prices and limited investment, end
users often face difficulties in accessing affordable and reliable network services.
Now, with the 5G Readiness Project, BTCL has a new opportunity to reposition itself. If successfully
implemented, this project can enable BTCL to become the most reliable and modern NTTN operator in
Bangladesh as a government-owned entity. The project aims to establish fiber optic connectivity of 100
gigabits per second (Gbps) capacity to every upazila (sub-district), 300 Gbps capacity in district towns,
and up to 1000 Gbps in metropolitan areas. This will exponentially enhance the speed and capacity of
the country’s digital infrastructure.
Currently, Bangladesh’s bandwidth usage stands at approximately 35 terabytes and is expected to reach
50 terabytes within this year. Experts predict that this demand will multiply four to five times over the
next five years. Through this project, BTCL will be able to supply nearly 30 percent of the country’s total
internet bandwidth—about 11,250 Gbps—aligning capacity with projected demand over the next
decade.
BTCL will build a modern, high-capacity optical fiber transmission network under this project. As a
government institution, BTCL’s expanded and improved network will play a crucial role in enhancing
quality and coverage, allowing it to compete effectively with private NTTN operators. Mobile operators
and other service providers will gain access to superior backbone networks, strengthening Bangladesh’s
digital communication system. Additionally, the general population will benefit from affordable, high-
speed internet services.
The project’s total approved budget is 10.59 billion taka, with approximately 4.63 billion taka allocated
directly for equipment procurement. In an international tender, China’s Huawei was selected as the
lowest bidder at 3.26 billion taka—about 1.37 billion taka below the approved budget. Despite this, the
tendering process has faced prolonged delays due to various complexities.
For a long time, the project’s progress has been stalled by administrative hurdles and unforeseen
obstacles. Although the equipment has already arrived at the port, it has not been released. The Special
Assistant to the Chief Adviser, along with officials from the Posts and Telecommunications Division and
BTCL, are actively working to expedite the project’s implementation. They remain optimistic that once
the equipment is released, BTCL will be able to provide 5G services and significantly contribute to the
country’s digital advancement.
However, unless administrative complications and multi-level barriers are resolved promptly, delays will
continue to hamper the nation’s digital development plans, and the benefits of 5G technology will take
longer to reach the public. To elevate Bangladesh’s telecommunications sector to international
standards, high-level attention and coordinated efforts are essential. Without swift government action,
realizing the project’s full potential will be difficult, posing obstacles to achieving the country’s digital
economy goals.
