Bangladesh Govt Committed to Quality Internet Connectivity: Telecom Minister

🌐 Dhaka, Bangladesh — Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam has said Bangladesh’s telecommunications policy is shifting from merely expanding connectivity to ensuring quality, affordability, reliability and meaningful access to digital services.

💬 “Now the focus is not only on expanding connectivity but also on ensuring quality, affordability, reliability and meaningful connectivity,” he said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 37th meeting of the Wireless Group (AWG-37) of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) in Dhaka on Monday.

🌏 APT Wireless Group Meeting in Dhaka

📊 The five-day meeting, being held from September 7 to 11 at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, is hosted by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) under the auspices of the APT.

📱 Bangladesh Telecom Infrastructure at a Glance

📊 The minister said Bangladesh had:

• 📱 191 million mobile subscriptions (as of July 2026)
• 📱 108 million 4G users
• 📶 49,000+ 4G sites
• 📶 ~46,000 telecom towers
• 🌐 ~173,000 km of optical fibre network

💬 The scale of the telecommunications infrastructure demonstrates the country’s progress in connectivity, he said, adding that the next priority is to ensure that citizens receive reliable and affordable services and can use digital connectivity in ways that create economic and social opportunities.

🤖 AI, Cybersecurity, 5G Priorities

💬 Mr. Faqir Mahbub Anam, who also serves as science and technology minister, said Bangladesh also needs to strengthen its technological capabilities in:

• 🤖 Artificial intelligence
• 🔒 Cybersecurity
• 💻 Software
• 🔧 Hardware
• 📶 5G
• 🌏 Other technology-driven industries

📶 Spectrum Management Critical

💬 He said spectrum would play an increasingly important role as demand for data rises and technologies such as 5G, satellite communications and the Internet of Things (IoT) expand.

🤝 Govt Commitments

💬 The government is committed to:

• 🌐 Expanding fast and reliable internet connectivity
• 🌐 Strengthening national and international digital infrastructure
• 📊 Ensuring healthy competition
• 💰 Making telecommunications services more affordable
• 🌏 Developing capabilities in AI, cybersecurity, software, hardware
• 🌏 Strengthening Bangladesh’s position in global digital economy

💬 Secretary Bilquis Jahan Rimi: Adapt to Technology

💬 Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Bilquis Jahan Rimi said the telecommunications sector was changing rapidly and governments and institutions need to continuously adapt their policies and activities to keep pace with technological developments.

💬 Timely policies, modern infrastructure, skills development and international cooperation are crucial to ensuring that people benefit from new technologies, she said.

🌏 Strategic Context: Bangladesh Digital Economy

📊 For Bangladesh’s digital economy, the telecom minister’s statements signal a strategic shift:

• 📊 From quantity to quality — 191M subscriptions achieved, now focus on service quality
• 📊 From connectivity to meaningful access — ensuring digital services create economic opportunities
• 📊 From 4G to 5G readiness — preparing for next-generation connectivity
• 🤖 From basic to AI/cybersecurity — building advanced tech capabilities
• 📊 From domestic to global — strengthening position in global digital economy

💰 Bangladesh IT/ITeS Export Context

📊 For Bangladesh’s IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) export sector, quality connectivity is essential:

• 💻 Software exports — growing but limited by connectivity quality
• 💻 Freelance IT services — 600,000+ freelancers need reliable internet
• 💻 BPO services — call centres and back-office operations
• 💻 Cloud services — data centre and cloud hosting
• 💻 E-commerce platforms — digital marketplace growth
• 💻 Fintech — mobile financial services infrastructure

📋 Implications for Digital Bangladesh Vision

📊 For Bangladesh’s broader digital transformation, the minister’s commitments align with the “Smart Bangladesh 2041” vision:

• 📱 Smart citizens — digital literacy and skills
• 🏢 Smart economy — digital payments, e-commerce, IT exports
• 🏛 Smart government — digital public services
• 🏭 Smart society — digital inclusion and opportunities

✅ For Bangladesh’s broader economic strategy, the shift from connectivity expansion to quality improvement signals that the country’s telecom infrastructure has reached a level of maturity where the next phase of growth will come from service quality, digital economy capabilities, and technology-intensive industries — rather than simply adding more subscribers or cell towers. The APT Wireless Group meeting in Dhaka provides an opportunity for Bangladesh to learn from regional best practices and align its telecom policy with the next generation of wireless technology standards.

🌏 For the export community — particularly IT/ITeS exporters, freelancers, and e-commerce platforms — the government’s commitment to quality connectivity could be transformational. Reliable, affordable internet is the foundation for Bangladesh to capture a larger share of the global digital services market — a sector where the country’s young, tech-savvy workforce and growing digital infrastructure provide a competitive advantage that could be leveraged for years to come.