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Private submarine cables could cut internet prices by up to 50%: stakeholders
Published : Tuesday, 22 September, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Court Correspondent
Industry stakeholders have identified the monopoly of Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCPLC) as a major obstacle to ensuring affordable and reliable internet services in the country.
They said the lack of competition in international bandwidth infrastructure is affecting bandwidth prices, internet quality and prices at the consumer level.
They also warned that the government’s indecision over allowing private submarine cables could leave Bangladesh facing a major infrastructure crisis. According to their estimates, internet prices could fall by 40 percent to 50 percent if private submarine cables are introduced.
The issues came up at a seminar and workshop titled “Affordable Internet for All: Challenges for the Tech Giants Investment in Bangladesh and Where are the Solution?” organised by the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB) at the RAOWA Club in Dhaka’s Mohakhali on Tuesday.
A presentation at the event said BSCPLC had invested Tk 819.50 crore in two submarine cables — SEA-ME-WE 4 and SEA-ME-WE 5. From 2008 to 2026, the company’s revenue exceeded Tk 3,000 crore, while its net profit stood at more than Tk 1,362 crore.
However, the presentation said ordinary consumers are being deprived of the benefits of the investment and business success because of the company’s monopoly.
In 2006, Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) sold bandwidth at Tk 75,000 per Mbps. After BSCPLC began selling bandwidth, the price fell to Tk 500 per Mbps in 2016, 10 years later. This year, the same bandwidth is being sold at Tk 120.
Analysts said competition from private submarine cables could bring the price down to Tk 60-70 per Mbps in 2027, creating scope for a 40-50% reduction in internet prices.
Bangladesh currently uses around 13,500 Gbps of international bandwidth. However, limited access to multiple submarine cables and alternative international routes, inadequate uninterrupted power supply and a lack of favourable policies are creating challenges for investment by global technology companies and hyperscalers such as Google, Meta, Akamai and Cloudflare, the seminar was told.
To break the monopoly, the participants recommended allowing private investment, ensuring carrier-neutral and non-discriminatory access to landing stations, establishing multiple cables and landing stations, expanding domestic fibre sharing, internet exchange points (IXPs) and local peering, and rationalising taxes on broadband infrastructure and equipment.
Aminul Hakim, director and chief executive officer of Metacore Subcom Ltd, said affordable and quality internet services would be impossible while BSCPLC’s monopoly remained in place. Creating opportunities for private investment would break the monopoly in the bandwidth market and allow consumers to benefit
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
