Banglalink, the third largest mobile network operator in Bangladesh, now provides the fastest internet connection speed while state-run Teletalk continues to be the worst data service provider in the country, according to a global speed test report.

As per Ookla's Speedtest Intelligence report, Banglalink delivered the fastest average download speed among the top local mobile network operators with 19 Mbps in the fourth quarter of 2022.

With a median download speed of 5.29 Mbps, Teletalk was the lowest performer during that period.

Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, gives a comprehensive view of worldwide network performance, quality and accessibility based on millions of results obtained through the Ookla Speedtest app each day.

For example, if anyone in Bangladesh tests the internet speed of their mobile network through the Ookla app, it will be counted on Ookla's global test results.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has not published any drive test results for 2022.

Banglalink, which has 3.94 crore subscribers, had won Ookla's recognition as the fastest mobile internet service provider in Bangladesh for the fourth time consecutively in February last year.

It also fared comparatively better than other operators in the test conducted by regulators in 2021 to gauge internet services in the country.

Banglalink's strong performance was backed by its efforts to improve internet services as the company has been investing heavily in procuring spectrum.

In 2021, the network operator had procured spectrum in 1,800 MHz band and in 2022, it procured another chunk of spectrum in 2,300 MHz band, according to Taimur Rahman, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer of Banglalink.

Also, Banglalink deployed nearly 4,000 base transceiver stations, which increased coverage by up to 40 per cent, last year.

With this enhanced coverage, capacity and spectrum availability, Banglalink has been able to consistently be the fasted mobile internet provider in the country, he said.

Banglalink has also introduced many innovative digital services in the recent past, including Toffee, through which millions of people in the country were able to watch the recent FIFA World Cup.

In addition, the company's MyBL app has become the first super app in the country while there are many other services that are appreciated by customers as well.

"Banglalink thrives to provide better and quality services for the people of the country," Rahman added.

Market leader Grameenphone, which has 8.03 crore subscribers, was the second-best internet service provider with a median download speed of 14.16 Mbps.

The second largest operator, Robi Axiata, which now has 5.43 crore customers, secured second position in the speed test with its brands Airtel posting 10.85 Mbps download speed while Robi registered 10.61 Mbps.

AKM Habibur Rahman, CEO of Teletalk Bangladesh, said they have identified the network's congestion points and have been increasing bandwidth at those points in the last 3-4 months.

"I hope the network quality will improve in the future," he added.

Bangladesh has advanced seven spots in the global ranking on mobile download speeds, reaching 119th position.

The country recorded an average 13.95 Mbps in November last year, better than the 10.42 Mbps recorded in November 2021, according to the Speedtest Global Index published by Ookla recently.

The internet subscriber base in Bangladesh has been on a downward curve for four months till November last year due to a sharp drop in the number of mobile internet users, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

The number of internet users dropped to 12.50 crore in November, down 11 lakh from the previous month.

With this, the number of internet users has fallen by about 25 lakh since July, when the total subscriber base stood at 12.75 crore.

The number of mobile internet subscribers fell by about 11 lakh to 11.34 crore that month.

However, operators said that despite the lower number of internet users, data consumption has been on the rise.