Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has announced a sweeping upgrade to its broadband services, increasing speeds by up to five times across existing packages without changing monthly prices. The move follows intensified competition in the market after Starlink’s entry in Bangladesh last year and similar speed upgrades by mobile operators and private ISPs.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser overseeing the post and telecommunications sector, said low-speed broadband packages are no longer commercially viable. “After Starlink’s entry, a 5 Mbps broadband connection is no longer a sustainable business model, as users now expect much higher speeds. Internet service providers are delivering better services to meet this demand,” he said.
Taiyeb added that the government has reduced submarine cable bandwidth prices by 10 percent and introduced bulk discounts, prompting wholesale providers to lower rates. This enabled private ISPs to enhance their offerings, leaving BTCL’s packages uncompetitive. “As a result, BTCL’s prices became higher than prevailing market rates. We have now adjusted its packages to make them competitive again,” he said.
He emphasized that as a state-run operator using public resources, BTCL has a responsibility to ensure citizens receive better value. “Our objective is to ensure that people receive better value and improved service quality from a public sector operator,” he said.
In a statement, BTCL said all existing plans have been replaced with higher-speed alternatives at the same price points.
Under the revised tariffs, customers paying Tk 399 will now receive 20 Mbps under the new “Sashroyi-20” package, up from 5 Mbps under “Sulav-5.” The Tk 500 plan has been upgraded from 12 Mbps to 25 Mbps under “Sashroyi-25.” Educational institutions will see a major boost, with the Campus package at Tk 500 now offering 50 Mbps instead of 15 Mbps.
Mid-range plans have also been enhanced. The Tk 800 package now delivers 50 Mbps instead of 15 Mbps, while the Tk 1,050 plan jumps from 20 Mbps to 100 Mbps. Customers on the Tk 1,150 plan will receive 120 Mbps, compared with 25 Mbps previously. Higher-tier packages now offer 130 Mbps at Tk 1,300, 150 Mbps at Tk 1,500, and 170 Mbps at Tk 1,700, up from 30 Mbps, 40 Mbps, and 50 Mbps.
BTCL said the increased bandwidth will support activities such as online education, remote work, high-definition streaming, and gaming.
