Number of internet users showing sharp growth

The number of internet users in Bangladesh witnessed a notable upswing of 10 lakh in August, predominantly attributed to the expansion of the country's mobile subscriber network.

The rise has brought the cumulative count of internet subscribers to 13.19 crore, according to data of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

Earlier in July, the internet subscriber number surpassed the 13-crore mark for the first time.

This is the 7th consecutive month since February that the internet subscriber base has grown.

In February, the number of internet subscribers saw its first rebound after six months thanks to a jump in mobile internet users.

Then in March and June, the number of broadband users also underwent growth while that of mobile internet users has been growing every month since February.

In August, the increase in mobile internet subscribers solely contributed to the growth.

The mobile internet users now account for 90.79 percent of the total internet subscriber base in the country, which stands at 11.97 crore.

Officials of different mobile network operators attributed the surge to the burgeoning popularity of a wide range of digital services that extend beyond the realm of social media.

This phenomenon underscores the evolving landscape of consumer preferences and their increasing reliance on digital platforms for a diverse array of services, marking a significant shift in the telecommunication industry's dynamics, they said.

Erik Aas, CEO of Banglalink, recently said that Banglalink has consistently prioritised network quality, which is evident by the 7th consecutive Ookla Speedtest Award.

"Our network superiority is accelerating our growth as a digital operator, enabling customers to smoothly access our diverse services," he said.

"We aim to utilise our fastest 4G network to continue providing best-in-class mobile telecommunication services and one-stop digital solutions through MyBL Super App and Toffee," Aas added.

Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer at Robi Axiata Ltd, pointed out a noteworthy shift in customer behaviour.

He said customers are increasingly leveraging the internet for a diverse range of digital services, including over-the-top media and gaming.

"This shift has resulted in a notable expansion of the subscriber base. Previously, mobile internet users primarily utilised our services for social media and YouTube, but their preferences have evolved towards a broader spectrum of digital offerings," Alam added.

Grameenphone recently said that with a continued focus on expanding its network and spectrum rollout, it is prioritising meeting its customers' needs through digital-centric innovation and services.

This approach establishes the foundation for a future-ready data network, it added.

Meanwhile, broadband internet subscribers remained unchanged at 1.21 crore in August.

It cannot be ascertained if the subscribers increased or decreased as the BTRC provides broadband internet subscriber information on a quarterly basis.

The BTRC calculates broadband subscriber information through market analysis, consultation and data collection from almost all internet service providers.

Md Emdadul Hoque, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh, said business growth recently stalled and so did customer acquisition.

"The costly dollar has escalated the cost of equipment as the industry solely relies on imported ones. Besides, some people are refraining from spending on the internet as their purchasing capacity has decreased," he added.

However, it cannot be determined how many individuals use the internet with the BTRC's data since many people use multiple SIMs.

According to Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics, a project run by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 41 percent of people in the country aged above five use the internet.