BTRC lifts bar on local cache for faster internet

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday repealed a directive it had passed in 2021 restricting small and medium-sized internet service providers (ISPs) from installing cache servers for their network.

This policy reversal is expected to enhance internet speeds and reduce operational costs for ISPs across the country.

Cache servers, which locally store frequently accessed content, play a crucial role in ensuring faster internet connectivity.

Their absence forced ISPs to route data from distant servers, resulting in slower speeds and increased operational expenses.

Industry experts and insiders have long argued that this limitation hampered the growth of the digital ecosystem, increasing the digital divide in Bangladesh.

With the ban now lifted, small and medium-sized ISPs, in addition to International Internet Gateways (IIGs), National Internet Exchanges (NIXs), and mobile operators, will also be able to install cache servers under specific conditions set by the BTRC.

Operators must inform the commission about the servers' specifications, installation sites, and agreements with suppliers.

Additionally, prior approval in the form of a no-objection certificate (NOC) is required before importing cache servers.

Operators must also submit monthly reports to the BTRC, detailing the servers' operational status and providing updates in case of server relocation or upgrades.

Furthermore, a monitoring link must be supplied to the commission to ensure regulatory oversight.

The move aligns Bangladesh's internet infrastructure with global best practices, where last-mile service providers use cache servers to deliver faster and more reliable internet services.

Experts said this decision would lead to significant improvements in service quality, allowing users to experience quicker access to online content.

For ISPs, the operational cost savings are expected to be substantial as the reliance on expensive, long distance data routing will be minimised.

Rakibul Hassan, chief technology officer of Link3 Technologies, hailed the development as a good initiative of the BTRC.

"It will significantly reduce our international bandwidth costs," he said.

However, for importing such equipment, the BTRC, customs, and other government agencies could collaborate to establish a single-window system, enabling streamlined processing, he added.