Number of internet users rises in March | The Daily Star
Skip to main content
T
Monday, October 2, 2023
The Daily Star
E-paper Today's News বাংলা
  • Home
  • News
    • Bangladesh
      • Investigative Stories
    • Investigative Stories
    • Asia
    • World
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Life & Living
  • Youth
  • Tech & Startup
  • Multimedia
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Rising Star
    • Showbiz
    • My Dhaka
    • Satireday
    • Campus
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Shift
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Star Holiday
    • weekend read
  • More
    • Environment
    • NRB
    • Supplements
    • Law & Our Rights
  • E-paper
  • বাংলা
Search Epaper T
  • Today's News
  • Home
  • News
    • Bangladesh
    • Investigative Stories
    • Asia
    • World
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Life & Living
  • Youth
  • Tech & Startup
  • Multimedia
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Rising Star
    • Showbiz
    • My Dhaka
    • Satireday
    • Campus
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Shift
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Star Holiday
    • weekend read
  • More
    • Environment
    • NRB
    • Supplements
    • Law & Our Rights

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
Economy
Mahmudul Hasan
Tue May 9, 2023 11:00 AM
Last update on: Tue May 9, 2023 12:57 PM

Most Viewed

  • US Visa Policy: Some officials in admin, police ill at ease

  • Couple, son found dead in Savar flat

  • Latin America turning into major export market

  • First delivery of nuclear fuel takes Bangladesh closer to its goal

Economy

Number of internet users rises in March

Focus on digital services other than social media
Mahmudul Hasan
Tue May 9, 2023 11:00 AM Last update on: Tue May 9, 2023 12:57 PM
internet users

The number of internet subscribers rose in March as mobile network operators and broadband service providers both bagged new customers due to increased usage of different digital services other than social media. 

The number of internet users jumped by over 11 lakh to 12.61 crore in March compared to that in the previous month, according to data of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

Earlier in February, the number of internet subscribers in Bangladesh saw its first rebound after six months thanks to a jump in mobile internet users. But in March, broadband user numbers also underwent growth.

Mobile operators fetched about 9 lakh customers in March to reach 1.14 crore.

The rise in internet subscriptions in March is a breath of fresh air for operators as user numbers had been on the decline from August last year to January this year

"We are now observing a new trend among customers," said Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer at Robi Axiata Ltd.

"They are now using the internet for different types of digital services such as over-the-top media, gaming etc. This is giving a boost to the subscriber number base," he said.

"Earlier, mobile internet subscribers generally used our service for social media and YouTube," he added.

The rise in internet subscriptions in March is a breath of fresh air for the mobile and broadband operators in the country.

User numbers have been on the decline from August last year to January this year as people had tightened their belts amid skyrocketing inflation.

Besides, a SIM sales ban on Grameenphone in the last six months of 2022 also contributed to a drop in the overall internet subscriber base.

Officials of mobile network operators say their massive network expansion drives ensured a better quality of service, boosting data usage at the same time.

For example, market leader Grameenphone recently completed the deployment of an additional 2,000 base transceiver stations, bringing its total to over 20,000, which is the highest among all operators.

Optical fibre connectivity covers over 35 per cent of its network, up from 17 per cent a year ago. Banglalink has also undergone massive network expansion.

"We attribute this uptick in customer preferences to our ongoing investment in network expansion," said Taimur Rahman, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer of Banglalink recently.

"…enabling our customers to experience Ookla certified fastest 4G while utilising our innovative and quality digital services," he said.

It recently completed the deployment of 4,000 base transceiver stations, taking its total to more than 14,500. The expansion resulted in a roughly 40 per cent expansion of its total coverage.

Robi Aixata also deployed hundreds of new towers throughout last year, taking its total number of towers to nearly 15,500.

However, customers of mobile and broadband, especially those who live outside Dhaka, have complained of experiencing low quality of services in recent times.

Meanwhile, broadband internet subscribers rose by 2 lakh to 1.20 crore in March.

The BTRC provides internet subscriber information on a quarterly basis.

"We have seen the inflow of new customers in January and February, which mainly contributed to the quarterly growth," said Md Aminul Hakim, chief executive officer at Amber IT, a top broadband internet service provider.

"January particularly saw a surge in new customers acquisition as the educational institutions opened after a month of closure," he added.

Md Emdadul Hoque, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh, said the ISPs have faced difficulty in importing equipment after the war started in Ukraine.

"For that we have struggled to expand our networks. Now this problem has been solved and we are expanding the network in the rural areas," he added.

Related topic:
internet usersinternet users in Bangladeshmobile network operatorsinternet subscribers
Apple Google
Click to comment

Comments

Comments Policy

Related News

Internet users through mobile phone 5.07cr: BTRC

Customer identity must in free Wifi: BTRC

Internet users in Bangladesh

Bangladesh lags behind peers in internet usage

Internet: a tool for growth of small businesses

High cost restricting access to internet

How can we have a Smart Bangladesh with high internet prices?

|ব্যাংক

১ লাখ ৫৬ হাজার কোটি টাকা খেলাপি ঋণের রেকর্ড

গত এপ্রিল, মে ও জুন মাসে খেলাপি ঋণ বেড়েছে ২৪ হাজার ৪১৯ কোটি টাকা।

৬ ঘণ্টা আগে
|রাজনীতি

ঈশ্বরগঞ্জে বিএনপির রোডমার্চে আ. লীগের হামলার অভিযোগ, ৩ গাড়ি ভাঙচুর

৫ ঘণ্টা আগে
Please Click on allow
The Daily Star
Journalism without fear or favour
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
© 2023 thedailystar.net | Powered by: RSI LAB
Copyright: Any unauthorized use or reproduction of The Daily Star content for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement liable to legal action.
X