BM Desk : The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has strongly advocated for extensive changes to the nation’s telecom laws, pointing out that the viability of regional ISPs is being jeopardized by unclear regulations, capricious pricing, and unfair treatment. The request was made on Saturday at the RAOWA Club in the Mohakhali neighborhood of the capital during a workshop called “Draft Telecom Policy and Challenges of the ISP Industry,” which was hosted by the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB).

ISPAB executives at the event voiced serious concerns about the recent arrival of satellite-based internet providers like Starlink, pointing out that they started operations in Bangladesh without having a clear understanding of regulatory compliance.
In order to protect national interests and provide fair competition in the digital marketplace, they urged the authorities to make sure that these providers are subject to the same licensing and operational framework as regional ISPs.
Speaking to the media, ISPAB President Aminul Hakim claimed that the largest policy crisis in the previous 27 years had been brought on by the proposed Telecom Policy draft.

He criticized the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for its attempt to set the broadband price at BDT 400 without engaging with industry stakeholders.

Calling this initiative “unrealistic” and politically driven, he contended that providing high-speed internet at such a price was impractical unless the government implemented specific policy and fiscal incentives. Hakim highlighted that private ISPs are already under considerable financial strain, with approximately 60 percent of their revenue consumed by various taxes and fees imposed by the government.

In this regard, he emphasized that it would be economically unfeasible to expect local operators to further reduce prices. Instead, ISPAB suggested a more realistic and feasible 50 Mbps broadband package priced at BDT 800, which would ensure both affordability and quality of service for consumers.

The association also dismissed the existing revenue-sharing model, deeming it fundamentally inequitable. Hakim asserted that it is the government’s duty to cover the costs associated with social obligations, rather than placing this burden on private companies already facing high operational expenses.

ISPAB Secretary General Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan stressed the critical need for active network sharing to minimize infrastructure duplication and service costs. He referenced a successful initiative in Dhanmondi, where 77 ISPs have effectively launched joint operations using a shared 1 Gbps cable line, serving as a model that could be replicated across the country.

The ISPAB leadership further insisted that last-mile connectivity should remain under the control of ISPs, as this segment is vital for service delivery and customer satisfaction. They also advocated for a rationalization of NTTN charges, urging that these fees be lowered to a single-digit percentage to decrease consumer prices and mitigate market distortions.

Criticizing the inconsistency in pricing regulation, the association pointed out that while mobile operators are subject to both floor and ceiling prices, ISPs are only limited by a ceiling, placing them at a competitive disadvantage.

The meeting, which was chaired by TRNB President Samir Kumar Dey, ended with a unified demand for inclusive, sensible, and progressive telecom regulations that guarantee the viability of regional ISPs, encourage innovation, and establish a competitive digital environment in Bangladesh.