GiveDirectly and Bangladesh Government Pilot AI-Powered Mobile Targeting to Improve Poverty Relief

GiveDirectly partnered with Bangladesh’s government to pilot MobileAid, an AI-driven method using anonymized mobile phone data to identify low-income households quickly and cost-effectively. The approach outperformed community targeting and rivaled traditional surveys, enabling faster, cheaper poverty relief through mobile money transfers. Challenges for scaling include regulatory approvals, telecom cooperation, and building trust, highlighting the need for combining technology with community outreach. MobileAid shows strong potential for rapid social protection, especially in disaster response, by providing timely, accurate targeting aligned with real-world needs.

Read More

Bangladesh Introduces Three-Tier Licensing Framework to Reform Telecom Sector Amid Industry Debate

Bangladesh’s new three-tier licensing framework aims to modernize the telecom sector and improve regulation, but it faces mixed reactions. While major mobile operators support the move, mid-level domestic firms warn it favors foreign players and threatens local businesses. The government is investigating past corruption, with hopes of greater transparency ahead.

Read More

Bangladesh Satellite Company Seeks Partnership with Starlink to Launch Satellite Internet Services

Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) is collaborating with Starlink to launch satellite internet services, proposing to host Starlink gateways at key ground stations. Following successful terminal tests and regulatory progress, the partnership aims to boost connectivity nationwide, supporting underserved regions and advancing Bangladesh’s digital transformation.

Read More

Bangladesh Sees Rebound in Internet Subscribers After Months of Decline, Mobile Subscriber Base Continues to Shrink

Bangladesh’s internet subscriber base showed signs of recovery in March 2025, with the addition of 750,000 new users. This growth follows a significant loss in subscribers over the previous months. The rise was driven by broadband subscriptions, while mobile user numbers continued to decline, including substantial losses from Banglalink and Teletalk.

Read More