The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has announced a significant upgrade for residential internet users with the cheapest shared broadband connections.

Starting immediately, millions of users paying Tk 500 per month for a 5 Mbps shared connection will now enjoy double the speed at 10 Mbps, without any increase in cost.

This decision was announced by ISPAB President Md Emdadul Hoque during a roundtable discussion at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Saturday (April 19).

Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB) organised the event.

Emdadul described this move as a positive step, aligning with the government’s efforts to improve internet quality while keeping prices affordable. He emphasised that the minimum standard for broadband internet should be at least 20 Mbps, and to achieve this, ISPAB members have proposed several regulatory reforms including Allowing maximum sharing of underutilised resources; lowering wholesale bandwidth prices to Tk 150 per Mbps, down from the current multi-slab rates that exceed Tk 350 for smaller service providers; and fixing transmission capacity charges at Tk 5 per Mbps.

At the event, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb made an announcement: all policies allowing internet shutdowns will be abolished.

"Past shutdowns have harmed freelancers and deterred investment in the country. We need to demonstrate to the world that the internet will no longer be shut down. It is our responsibility to assure investors," Taiyeb said.

He highlighted the poor state of internet services in Bangladesh, noting that despite being among the most expensive globally, the quality remains subpar. "We still lack dedicated internet infrastructure for education, healthcare, and disaster management. Therefore, we cannot yet consider ourselves aligned with global standards," he remarked.

To address these challenges, Taiyeb outlined a series of transformative measures: Revoking multiple licenses and limiting the number of licensees, with operators given time to meet required conditions or face fines; restructuring the network topology into three layers to enhance efficiency; and introducing performance-based KPIs and beginning deregulation from June.

He also stressed the importance of eliminating political influence in the telecom sector and promoting digital services. "All barriers to these services will be removed, and active sharing will be facilitated," he added.

Taiyeb announced that all telecom fibre networks in metro areas must be fully underground within three years. He emphasised the need for telecom-grade fibre networks, stating, "Overhead fibre cannot be considered telecom-grade. All fibre must go underground."

Addressing concerns about Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), he clarified that Bangladesh is not regressing technologically. "We want to send a clear message: do business, but don’t seek favors from politicians or influencers. We want Voice over WiFi to launch quickly and bring connectivity indoors to ensure quality," he said.

To ensure affordability and accessibility ISPAB President Imdadul Haque proposed introducing active sharing of resources; extending license tenure to 10 years; enhancing IIG (International Internet Gateway) and NTTN (National Telecommunications Transmission Network) capacities; allowing access to government infrastructure, and exempting profit-sharing for five years.

Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb reiterated Bangladesh’s ambition to rank among the top 30 countries globally on relevant indices within the next two years. He warned against vested interests attempting to manipulate policy updates, stating, "Such attempts will ultimately lead to their own downfall."

TRNB Organising Secretary Al-Amin Dewan presented the keynote paper at the event while TRNB President Samir Kumar Dey presided over the programme, with General Secretary Masuduzzaman Robin delivering the welcome address.