The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has revoked the licences of 334 internet service providers (ISPs), business process outsourcing (BPO), telecommunication value added services (TVAS) and vehicle tracking services (VTS) mainly for failing to comply with regulatory rules for licence renewal.

The telecom regulator issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday.

According to BTRC rules, an ISP must apply for renewal six months prior to the expiry of their licence.

Earlier, BTRC Chairman Major General (Retd) Emdad Ul Bari told The Daily Star that they had decided to cancel those licences.

There are about 3,000 ISPs in Bangladesh.

According to BTRC rules, an ISP must apply for renewal six months prior to the expiry of their licences

The broadband internet market in Bangladesh has grown significantly in recent years, driven by increasing digitalisation, urbanisation, and the affordability of internet services.

The country now boasts over 1.37 crore broadband users as of October, with substantial contributions from urban centres like Dhaka and Chattogram.

This growth has been propelled by fibre-optic technology, wireless broadband and initiatives by private ISPs alongside government programmes to expand internet access in rural areas.

Challenges persist, such as service quality inconsistency and lack of universal coverage in rural regions.

Government data from Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics shows that internet usage among the rural population is around 42 percent in 2023 compared to 57 percent in urban areas, indicating a gap of 15 percent.

Since 2021, the maximum tariff for broadband internet connections has been fixed. A customer now has to pay Tk 500 per month for a broadband connection with a minimum internet speed of 5 Mbps.

For 10 Mbps, the rate will range from Tk 800 to Tk 1,000, and for 20 Mbps, Tk 1,100 to Tk 1,200.