Bangladesh Achieves Major Milestone in Strengthening International Internet Connectivity

Bangladesh has made significant progress in strengthening its international internet connectivity. As part of the country's first privately-operated submarine cable initiative, the Bangladesh Private Cable System (BPCS) Consortium has signed a contract with Nokia for the supply of Submarine Line Terminal Equipment (SLTE). The agreement was formalized at a ceremony in Dhaka, attended by senior officials from the consortium, executives from Nokia, as well as diplomatic representatives from the European Union, Finland, and Japan.

Industry experts view this initiative as a key milestone in increasing private sector participation in Bangladesh's digital infrastructure. The consortium has outlined ambitious plans to meet the growing bandwidth demand. Currently, the country’s bandwidth usage stands at approximately 9,000 Gbps, with projections indicating it could rise to 20,000 Gbps by mid-2027 and potentially reach 50,000 Gbps by 2030.

To meet this increasing demand, substantial investments are essential. The consortium has already invested 60 billion BDT, with plans to invest up to 130 billion BDT more to launch three cable pairs on the Singapore-Cox's Bazar route by June 2026. This project aims to reduce Bangladesh's reliance on Indian bandwidth, lower foreign exchange outflows, enhance cybersecurity, and decrease operational costs. As a result, consumers can expect more affordable and reliable internet services.