Telecommunications in Bangladesh

The liberalisation of Bangladesh’s telecommunications sector began with small steps in 1989 with the issuance of a licence to a private operator for the provision of inter alia cellular mobile services to compete with Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB), the previous monopoly provider of telecommunications services within Bangladesh. Significant changes in the number of fixed and mobile services deployed in Bangladesh occurred in the late 1990s and the number of services in operation have subsequently grown exponentially in the past five years.

The incentives both from government and public sectors have helped the industry grow and it is now one of the biggest industries in Bangladesh. As a populous country, its huge market has attracted many foreign investors.

Telecommunication

The telecom sector in Bangladesh is rapidly emerging. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is the regulatory authority for this sector, overseeing licensing, policy, etc.

The calling code of Bangladesh is +880. There are also several SubCodes.

History

Landmarks in the history of telecom industry in Bangladesh

• 1853 : Telegraph branch under Posts and Telegraph Department, British India.
• 1971 : Reconstructed as Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Department under Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
• 1975 : Reconstructed as Telegraph and Telephone Board.
• 1979 : Reconstructed as Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) with right to issue license for telecom and wireless services.
• 1981 : Digital Telex Exchange in Bangladesh.
• 1983 : Automatic Digital ITX started in Dhaka.
• 1985 : Coinbox Telephone service introduced in Bangladesh by BTTB.
• 1989 : GENTEX Telegraph messaging service introduced in Bangladesh.
• 1989 : Bangladesh Rural Telecom Authority got license to operate exchanges in 200 upazilla.
• 1989 : Sheba Telecom got license to operate exchange is 199 upazilla.
• 1989 : Cellular mobile phone company Pacific Bangladesh Telephone Limited and Bangladesh Telecom got license.
• 1995 : Card Telephone service introduced in Bangladesh by BTTB and TSS.
• 1995 : Regulatory power of BTTB transferred to Ministry (MoPT).
• 1995 : 2nd and 3rd ITX installed in Dhaka.
• 1996 : GrameenPhone got cellular mobile Telephone license.
• 1996 : Telecom Malaysia International Bangladesh got cellular mobile license.
• 1998 : Telecom Policy.
• 2000 : Global Telecom Service (GTS) Telex Exchange venture with British Teleco.
• 2001 : Telecommunication Act, to establish Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
• 2002 : ICT Policy.
• 2004 : Teletalk cellular mobile launched.
• 2005 : Egypt-based Orascom acquired Sheba Telecom
• 2006 : NGN introduced in BTTB.
• 2008 : BTTB converted into Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) with 100% shares owned by Government. The Submarine Cable Project transformed into Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL)
• 2008 : Japanese NTT DoCoMo bought 30 percent stake in Aktel
• 2009 : Bharti Airtel acquired 70 percent stake in Warid Telecom
• 2009 : Internet Protocol Telephony Service Provider (IPTSP) Operators launched.
• 2012 : 3G mobile service is introduced by state owned Teletalk in October.

Structure

As defined in the National Telecommunications Policy 1998 and International Long Distance Telecommunications Services (ILDTS) Policy 2007, all mobile operators is to interconnect through Interconnection Exchange (ICX) and all international calls to be handled by International Gateway (IGW) which is to be connected to the mobile and fixed operators through the ICXs.

The Interconnection Exchange (ICX) will receive all calls from the mobile and fixed operators whenever the call is made to other network and will pass it to the destination network if the call is local, and will pass to the IGWs if the call is international. ICX will also deliver calls received from IGWs where the call is destined.

Below illustrate the structure of interconnection between different interfaces.

Service providers

Public switched telephone network

The number of public switched telephone network (PSTN) subscribers in Bangladesh as of February 2009 was 1.372 million. PSTN operators in Bangladesh include:

• Banglaphone Ltd.
• BTCL
• Integrated Services Limited (ISL) â€" branded under the name Sheba Phone
• Jalalabad Telecom Ltd. â€" branded under the name Bijoy Phone
• Onetel Communication Ltd.
• Ranks Telecom Ltd.
• S.A Telecom System Ltd.
• Westec Ltd.
• Dhaka Telephone Co. Ltd. â€" Currently off air, License cancelled by BTRC
• National Telecom Ltd. â€" Currently off air, License cancelled by BTRC
• Peoples Telecommunication and Information Services Ltd. â€" Currently off air, License cancelled by BTRC
• Tele Barta Ltd. â€" branded under the name Jubok phone â€" Currently off air

Mobile phone operators

There are 6 mobile phone operators in Bangladesh, operating under the names of Airtel, Banglalink, Citycell, Grameenphone, Robi and TeleTalk. The number of mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh as of March 2013 was 99.87 million, having risen from the February 2009 figure of 45.21 million.

Long distance operators (as per ILDTS Policy 2007)

On February 25, 2008 the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission awarded licenses for two Interconnection Exchanges (ICX), three International Gateways (IGw), and one International Internet Gateway (IIG) to six firms through an open auction in February 2008. The incumbent BTTB got the same licenses too. And after then On April 12, 2012 the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission awarded licenses for twenty one Interconnection Exchanges (ICX), twenty two International Gateways (IGw), and thirty International Internet Gateway (IIG)Here is the list of all operators:

International Gateway (IGW) operators

1. Mir Telecom

2. Bangla Trac Communications Limited

3. Novotel Limited

4. BG Tel Limited

5. BTCL

6. Cel Telecom Limited

7. DBL Telecom Limited

8. DigiCon Telecommunications Limited

9. First Communications Limited (FirstCom)

10. Global Voice Telecom Limited

11. Kay Telecommunications Limited

12. 1Asia Alliance Gateway Limited

13. Mos5 Tel Ltd

14. Bangladesh International Gateway Limited

15. Ratul Telecom Limited

16. Roots Communication

17. SM Communication Limited

18. Telex Limited

19. Unitrac Communications Limited

20. Vision Tel Ltd

21. [1]

22. Sigma Engineers Limited

23. Platinum Communications Ltd.

24. HRC Technologies Ltd (HRCIGW).

25. Bestec Telecom Ltd.

26. Venus Telecom Ltd.

27. Hamid Sourcing Limited.

Interconnection Exchange (ICX) operators

1. Bangla Telecom Ltd.
2. BTCL
3. Bangla ICX Ltd.
4. Agni ICX
5. Apex Communication Pvt Ltd
6. CloudTel
7. GAZI Networks Ltd
8. GETCO ICX
9. Imam Network Ltd.
10. Jibondhara ICX
11. M M Communications Ltd.
12. M & H
13. MicroTrade
14. Mother Telecom
15. New Generation Telecom Ltd
16. Paradise ICX
17. Purple ICX
18. RingTech ICX
19. Cross World Ltd
20. SR Telecom
21. Sheba
22. Softex
23. Tele Exchange
24. Teleplus Network Ltd
25. Vertex ICX
26. VoiceTEL Ltd.

International Internet Gateway (IIG) operator

1. Global Fair Communications Ltd.

2. Mango Teleservices Limited.

3. BTCL

4. NovoCom Limited.

5. Aamra Companies

6. Level3 Carrier Limited.

7. Delta Infocom Ltd.

8. Intraglobe Communications Ltd.

9 Equitel Communications Ltd.

10. MaxNet Online.

11. BSCCL

12. REGO Communications Limited

13. 1Asia Alliance Communication Limited.

14. bdHUB Limited.

15. Abir Telecommunication Limited.

16. Radiant Communications Limited.

17. Fiber @ Home Limited.

18. Apple Communication Limited.

19. Cybergate Ltd.

20. Greenland Technologies Ltd.

21. Earth Telecommunication Pvt. Limited.

22. BD Link Communication Ltd.

Internet Protocol Telephony Service Provider (IPTSP) operators

The IPTSP operators in Bangladesh are:

• Nationwide:

1. MetroNet Bangladesh Limited. Branded as MetroTel

2. Information Services Network Limited. (ISN)

3. InterCloud Limited

4. BTS Communications (BD) Ltd.

5. ADN Telecom Ltd (Former Advanced Data Network Systems Ltd)

6. BRACNet Limited (A BRAC-Japan-USA Joint Venture)

7. HRC Technologies Limited (GETCO Online Ltd.)

8. Link 3 Technologies Ltd

9. Connect BD Ltd.

10. Digital Connectivity Limited

11. Eirtel Services.

12. Royal Green Online Limited

13. Global Access Limited

14. Access Telecom (BD) Ltd.

15. Ranks ITT Ltd.

16. BDCOM Online Ltd.

17. Broad Band Telecom Services Limited

18. Telnet Communication Ltd.

19. Off Line

20. Agni Systems Limited

21. Communication One (Pvt.) Limited

22. dhakaCom Limited.[2]

23. X-Net Limited

24. Bangladesh Internet Exchange Limited

25. Nreach Net (Pvt.) Limited

26. Innovative Online Limited

27. Akij Online Limited

28. Bangladesh Export Import Company Limited

29. IDS Bangladesh

30. IS PROS LIMITED

31. Idea Networks And Communications Ltd

32. Pritty International (Pvt) Limited

33. Akceycom Limited

34. BEXIMCO AND SQUARE

35. MaxNet Online

36. ERGO Ventures Limited

37. Cyber Net Communications

• Central:

1. Grameen Cybernet Limited

2. Fusion Net

3. M/s. Media & Multimedia

4. Next Online Limited ( Nextfone)

5. J F Optical Services

6. IT Connect Limited

7. Sine-10 (BD) Ltd.

8. SADIATEC Ltd

• Zonal:

1. Chittagong Online Limited

2. Chittagong Telecom Services Limited

3. HN TELECOM

4. First n Fast IT Ltd

On August 18, 2009 the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission awarded licenses for IPTSP. IPTSP operators are regulated by the BTRC.

International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) operator

1.1Asia Alliance Communication Limited

2.NovoCom Limited

3.Fiber @ Home Limited

4.Mango Teleservices Limited

5.BD Link Communication Limited (BDLINK)

6.Summit Communications Limited

Radio

Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2, community radio 1, internet radios

Radios: 6.15 million (1997)

The government owned Betar-Radio Bangladesh operates from Dhaka and other local districts. Currently, the private FM radio channels are very popular. They are trying to attract young people by broadcasting music and news. The operating private radio channels include:

• dhakaFM 90.4 FM
• Radio Today 89.6FM
• Radio Foorti 88.0FM
• Radio Amar 88.4FM
• Radio Metrowave
• ABC Radio

Television

Television broadcast stations: 23 including state run BTV and BTV World (2012)

Televisions: 20, 000,000(2012)

The number of private satellite channels is growing. The first private channel in Bangladesh is ATN Bangla. There are 4 full-fledged news channels (Shomoy, ATN news, Independent and Ekattur). The first full-fledged music channel of Bangladesh is called GAAN BANGLA which will start its operations by July.

• 1964 â€" television transmission
• 1971 â€" btv start telecast program only Dhaka

Internet

The first connectivity of internet was only in 1996. Though it was somewhat late, over the past few years the growth is rapid. The government's high internet tariff is impeding the growth of this sector. Recently the government has decided to reduce the tariff 50%.

Internet country code: .bd

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): As of 2005 more than 180 Internet Service Providers are operating in the country. ISP's are regulated by the Bangladesh telecommunication regulatory commission (BTRC).

Internet users: The number of internet users in Bangladesh as of March 2009 is over 600,000 compared to 100,000 in 2000. However, only 0.3% of the population use the internet and thus making Bangladesh the lowest usage percentage per population of the internet in the world with the exception of North Korea, Myanmar and Sierra Leone.

But on April, 2010 Akhtaruzzaman Manju, president of Internet Service Providers' Association of Bangladesh, told Xinhua that the country's six cell phone operators and Internet Service Providers have so far provided over 800,000 internet connections. "We've estimated that nearly 10 million people in the country are using 800,000 internet connections on sharing basis," he said, adding the number of internet users in the country is increasing yearly by around 15â€"16 percent.

The number of Internet subscribers in Bangladesh is likely to reach 18.3 million by the year 2020â€" translating to a 32 percent household Internet penetration at around the same time”, says a study by an international research group.

“This increased internet penetration would resulted in 2.6 per cent contribution to the country’s GDP by 2020 while creating 129 thousand more jobs by the same year” the research added.

Broadband Internet access

Though broadband internet access is available it charges high for high speed connection than other south Asian countries, though this is rapidly changing. Broadband internet and e-commerce in Bangladesh is slowly progressing. WiMAX service is now available from some internet service providers. In Bangladesh Broadband is legally defined as 128/128 kbit/s, which is not in line with ITU. Therefore most of the Broadband internet services and also subscribers are using bandwidth that may not be considered a broadband in other countries and may not be broadband in international standards .

Broadband Internet Service Provider

The ISP in Bangladesh are:

• MetroNet Bangladesh Limited.
• BTS Communications (BD) Ltd.
• Trust Online Ltd.
• Infolink

International

There are 6 satellite earth stations. Talimabad, Betbunia are two of them. Some info shows that the number is now 7. Bangladesh will send its first ever satellite Bangabandhu-1 into space in 2015.

Submarine cables

Bangladesh is connected to SEA-ME-WE 4 or South-East Asia â€" Middle East â€" Western Europe 4. The landing site of the Bangladesh branch is located at Cox's Bazaar. Bangladesh is also a member of the proposed SEA-ME-WE-5, which will provide another submarine cable connectivity for the country when its submarine cable is implemented within a couple of years. The company, BSCCL is the only submarine cable operator in Bangladesh.

See also

• Bangabandhu-1
• Doel (laptop)
• Media of Bangladesh
• Telecom System in Bangladesh
• List of Bangladeshi TV and radio Channels
• BSCCL

References

External links

• Media and Telecommunications Lansdcape Guide in Bangladesh, a 'infoasaid' guide, May 2012, 135 pp.