Bangladesh’s internet penetration rate has seen a gradual decline over the past few months, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. The rate dropped from 76.05% in November 2024 to 75.04% in December and further to 74.40% in January 2025.
Before this decline, the country had already witnessed a steady drop in the internet penetration rate from 80.60% in August to 79.48% in September and then to 78.61% in October.
The internet penetration rate reflects the percentage of the population with internet access, highlighting a slowdown in the country’s connectivity expansion. This downward trend suggests that internet growth is not keeping pace with population increases and the growing demand for widespread internet accessibility.
Mobile broadband subscriptions, a major contributor to internet penetration, also experienced a decline during this period. The number of mobile broadband users fell from 98.93 million in November to 98 million in December and further decreased to 96.97 million in January.
Despite this, 4G technology remains the dominant mobile network, with 106.15 million subscribers in January 2025, slightly down from 106.03 million in December and November. On the other hand, 3G subscriptions have continued to decrease, dropping from 3.25 million in November and December to 3.20 million in January.
Fixed broadband services, primarily used by households and businesses, maintained a stable penetration rate. The fixed broadband penetration rate stood at 7.87% in November, increased slightly to 8.03% in December, and remained unchanged in January.
Teledensity, which measures the total voice and internet subscriptions as a percentage of the population, also saw a decline during this period, reflecting the broader slowdown in connectivity growth across key metrics.
This sustained decline in multiple indicators raises concerns about the accessibility and affordability of internet services in the country. Experts suggest that improving network quality, reducing costs, and expanding infrastructure will be essential to reversing this trend and ensuring broader digital inclusion.
