Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Rupali Bank PLC has launched its modern mobile banking service ‘RupaliCash’, offering e-KYC accounts, fund transfers, salary payments, bill pay, and digital transactions. As the only state-owned bank with its own mobile financial service, Rupali Bank aims to expand financial inclusion and enhance customer convenience nationwide.
Grameenphone and Rakuten Symphony are rolling out South Asia’s first Open RAN pilot, starting with 4G and 5G NSA sites in Bangladesh. The initiative is expected to pave the way for a nationwide Open RAN deployment, reinforcing Grameenphone’s strategy for a flexible, future-ready network.
Bangladesh’s telecom regulator BTRC has set a 10 Mbps minimum 4G download speed requirement nationwide under new QoS rules, extending to mobile operators, NTTNs, and ISPs. The policy also tightens standards for voice quality, fixed broadband, and customer service, with monthly compliance checks starting September 2025.
Starlink has launched its corporate internet service in Bangladesh, with Eastern Bank and 20 other firms signing up. The world’s largest Starlink ground station in Gazipur will power the service, while Robi becomes the first reseller. High costs could restrict uptake, but the service promises to transform rural connectivity.
A GSMA report warns Bangladesh’s high spectrum costs and heavy taxation are holding back 5G adoption and network investment. By aligning spectrum prices with regional or global levels, the country could accelerate 5G rollout, raise speeds, and unlock up to $45 billion in economic growth by 2035.
Grameenphone and Robi Axiata have commercially launched Bangladesh’s first 5G services, covering all divisional headquarters. The rollout is hailed as a transformative milestone, promising faster connectivity, innovation, and economic growth, while positioning Bangladesh for a more advanced digital future.
Bangladesh is prioritising logistics reforms to cut trade costs and sustain export growth. Experts stress that reducing bottlenecks, modernising infrastructure, and enabling private-public partnerships are critical to maintaining competitiveness as the country transitions from LDC status.
Bangladeshi schools are rethinking teaching as AI tools like ChatGPT reshape classrooms. Educators see both risks to academic honesty and opportunities for innovation, adopting hybrid approaches that emphasise critical thinking, teacher training, and ethical guidelines to balance AI’s benefits with authentic learning.
Banglalink has installed an 80kW rooftop solar array at its Gazipur data center, producing 130MWh annually and cutting 60 tons of emissions. The project sets a sustainability benchmark for Bangladesh’s telco sector and reflects a regional shift toward renewable-powered infrastructure.
ECM Blockchain, founded by Bangladeshi entrepreneur Tanvirul Islam Prince, is the country’s first blockchain initiative with global scale. With a mainnet launch in Q4 2025, live ecosystem projects, and an active ICO, ECM aims to deliver scalable, low-cost infrastructure for trade, supply chains, finance, and Web3 innovation.