Background Study of Telco Industry

Present Scenario of Bangladesh Telecom Industries

During the last decade, the telecommunications industry has grown to be an important element of
Bangladesh's economy, contributing significantly to the country's GDP. In Bangladesh, the telecom
sector has increased job possibilities, sparked innovation, and boosted economic development in a
number of different areas.
With an average download speed of 35.25 Mbit/second for fixed-network broadband internet,
Bangladesh ranks 104th in an international comparison (Ookla, December 2022). The upload rate was
38.19 Mbit/second (51st place). In mobile internet on tablets and smartphones, Bangladesh comes
121st with a download speed of 14.34 Mbit/second and the upload speed of around 9 Mbit was enough
for 103rd place (Ookla, December 2022).1
Another shift here is suggested by the rising use of mobile phones and the concurrent reduction in fixed-
network phone use (WorldData.info). During the last several years, the number of fixed-network phones
has decreased, while the number of mobile phones has dramatically grown (WorldData.info). Most
recently, 107 mobile phone contracts were issued for every 100 persons (WorldData.info)2

Distribution in 2021 Bangladesh Total

Broadband users 10.09 m
Landlines 587,482.00
Mobile cellulars 181.02 m
WorldData.info

With technological breakthroughs and adaption to ongoing change, Bangladesh's telecommunications

sector is doing well in providing the greatest user experience. The telecom business, an oligopoly, has
risen dramatically because to the contributions of three main market participants, Grameenphone, Robi,
and Banglalink, which account for 97% of users (AN INCLUSIVE DIGITAL FUTURE, October2021). During
the previous five years, these three players have had a compounded annual revenue increase of 5.5%,
reaching USD 3.2 billion in 2020 (AN INCLUSIVE DIGITAL FUTURE, October2021). 3
The total number of Mobile Phone subscribers has reached 178.61 Million at the end of August, 2021.
The Mobile Phone subscribers are shown below:
OPERATOR SUBSCRIBER (IN MILLIONS)
Grameen Phone Ltd. (GP) 83.18
Robi Axiata Limited (Robi) 52.26
Banglalink Digital Communications Limited 36.90
Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd. (Teletalk) 6.27
Total 178.61
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (2021)

1
https://www.speedtest.net/global-index

2
https://www.worlddata.info/asia/bangladesh/telecommunication.php

3
https://ucbaml.com/bangladesh-telecom-sector-outlook-in-the-fresh-decade/
Source: Modor Intelligence

During the next five years, the Bangladeshi telecom industry is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 9%
(BANGLADESH TELECOM MARKET - GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19 IMPACT, AND FORECASTS (2023 -
2028). While voice communication on mobile devices has been essential to Bangladesh's telecom
industry's expansion, recent changes have witnessed a shift in favor of digital inclusion (BANGLADESH
TELECOM MARKET - GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19 IMPACT, AND FORECASTS (2023 - 2028). The leading
companies in the sector include Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), Grameen
Phone Ltd, Robi Axiata Ltd, Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd, and Teletalk Bangladesh Limited DBA
(BANGLADESH TELECOM MARKET - GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19 IMPACT, AND FORECASTS (2023 -
2028).4

Bangladesh Telecom Industry Market Analysis

 Due to the diversity of online activities and the rising popularity of mobile internet services, the
number of mobile data consumers in Bangladesh is expanding. The adoption rate of
smartphones in Bangladesh will increase from 47% in 2021 to 63% by the end of 2025, according
to a forecast by GSMA5. The "The Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2022" report predicts that
Bangladesh's subscriber penetration rate will increase from 55% in 2021 to 59% by the end of
2025.

 According to a report by Financial Express, Bangladesh's Ministry of Posts and

Telecommunications announced that rather than a blanket activation of the fifth-generation
network, the government will install the 5G network in phases and as required. If Bangladesh
joins to the third underwater cable, it will obtain 13,200 Gbps (gigabits per second) of
bandwidth (S-MIM-UE-6)6.
4
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/bangladesh-telecom-market

5
https://www.gsma.com/mobileeconomy/asiapacific/

6
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/5g-rollout-in-bangladesh-step-by-step-minister-says-1653898399
  Intending to achieve "Vision 2041," Bangladesh is developing rapidly. The Bangladesh
perspective plan aims to raise the country to upper-middle income status by 2031 and high-
income status by 2041 (Smart Bangladesh ICT Master Plan,2041). Internet and digital technology
are expected to be the most important tools for executing the plan (Smart Bangladesh ICT
Master Plan 2041). Access to affordable and reliable connections is essential to the
government's objective of achieving "Vision 2041," making digital inclusion a critical component
of this endeavor (Smart Bangladesh ICT Master Plan 2041) 7.

 According to the report of “BANGLADESH TELECOM MARKET - GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19

IMPACT, AND FORECASTS (2023 - 2028)” stated that Bangladesh's low 5G use, the government's
pragmatic decision to delay the introduction and deployment of 5G is significant. Investment in
5G would not be lucrative for the country or the participating companies in short to medium
term. Operators would still wish to introduce 5G even when there aren't enough business cases
to back it if only to obtain the competitive advantage of being among the first to do so.
Unquestionably, 5G is required for Bangladesh to achieve its 2041 goal. Nevertheless, the
expected benefits are far outweighed by the enormous investment needed, the status of the
environment, and the currency reserve restrictions. Hence, it may be considered later.

Source: GSMA

After the COVID-19 outbreak, connectivity has emerged as a critical factor in determining
whether or not economic and social activities will be able to continue in Bangladesh.
Telecommunication is crucial in the nation because it enables businesses and educational
institutions to continue their operations and provides individuals with a means to interact, find
jobs, and access a range of services that can improve their quality of life. In response to the
challenges brought on by the pandemic, mobile service providers in Bangladesh have taken
measures to ensure that mobile technology may be effectively utilized to preserve everyday
living.

THE OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF INVESTMENT

7
https://mefwd.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/mefwd.portal.gov.bd/go_ultimate/
9cff7aab_28d8_4112_91f2_0fa7fac08452/Smart%20Bangladesh%20ICT%20Master%20Plan%202041-%20Draft
%20PDF%20(1).pdf
Uncertainty in tax and regulatory policy:

Mobile network carriers in Bangladesh have claimed a variety of inconsistent laws and interpretations
from the country's tax authorities, which makes it more challenging for them to do business in the
country. Bangladesh's low 3G spectrum allotment and auction prices have hurt mobile service quality
and digital service adoption. Bangladesh authorities supported Digital Bangladesh by establishing 4G/LTE
services with the February 2018 spectrum auction (Country overview: Bangladesh,2018)8. High auction
reserve prices and license costs persisted (2025 Targets: “Connecting the Other Half”, UN Broadband
Commission, 2018)9. Some of this expensive spectrum remained unsold due to the world's lowest ARPU
mobile market (2025 Targets: “Connecting the Other Half”, UN Broadband Commission, 2018). This
emphasizes the significance of establishing reserve pricing for future spectrum auctions that account for
operators' requirements to fund spectrum access and construct infrastructure to utilize it (2025 Targets:
“Connecting the Other Half”, UN Broadband Commission, 2018). As mobile broadband use grows and
data demand strains networks, more spectrum will be needed. To provide better, cheaper services, the
government should distribute spectrum quickly and fairly.

While mobile sector taxes and levies fund state spending in Bangladesh, the existing tax scheme does
not improve mobile service affordability. Bangladesh's mobile sector pays disproportionately high taxes
and levies compared to other sectors and other Asian nations, and they frequently don't take into
consideration the industry's investment and economic characteristics. The Bangladeshi mobile industry
paid 4.5 times more in taxes and fees than its GDP share in 2014 (Country overview: Bangladesh,2018).

8
https://data.gsmaintelligence.com/api-web/v2/research-file-download?id=30933394&file=Country%20overview
%20Bangladesh.pdf

9
https://circleid.com/posts/20180124_un_broadband_commission_sets_global_broadband_goal_for_2025
Compare Internet Packages 2023 | GP, Banglalink, Airtel, Robi, Teletalk

➤ Compare Internet Packages

Here are all mobile operator’s internet packages by the table. This information updated very
recently. But mind it operators can change their offer & packages anytime.

➤ 250MB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Grameenphone 13 Taka 03 Days *121*3340#

Banglalink 18 Taka 03 Days *121*18#
➤ 512MB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 23 Taka 03 Days *121*23#

Grameenphone 28 Taka 03 Days *121*3256#
Robi (500 MB) 32 Taka 03 Days
Teletalk (500 MB) 26 Taka 30 Days *111*503#
➤ 1GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 31 Taka 03 Days *121*31#

Airtel 32 Taka 03 Days *123*32#
 Robi 38 Taka 03 Days
Grameenphone 38 Taka 03 Days *121*3366#
Robi 48 Taka 04 Days visit site
Teletalk 27 Taka 07 Days *111*27#
Banglalink 51 Taka 07 Days *121*51#
Grameenphone 77 Taka 07 Days *121*3056#
Teletalk 49 Taka 30 Days *111*49#
Grameenphone 118 Taka 30 Days *121*3430#
Banglalink (1.2GB) 119 Taka 30 Days *121*119#

➤ 1.5GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 36 Taka 03 Days *121*36#

Banglalink 41 Taka 03 Days *5000*41#
Airtel 44 Taka 03 Days *123*044#
Grameenphone 46 Taka 03 Days *121*3399#
Robi 54 Taka 03 Days visit site
➤ 2GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 49 Taka 03 Days *121*49#

Airtel 49 Taka 03 Days *123*049#
Robi 57 Taka 03 Days visit site
Grameenphone 57 taka 03 Days *121*3242#
Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Airtel 89 Taka 07 Days *123*089#

Banglalink 99 Taka 07 Days *121*99#
Robi 108 Taka 07 Days visit site
Teletalk 93 Taka 30 Days *111*93#
Airtel 229 Taka 30 Days *123*229#
Robi 249 Taka 28 Days visit site
➤ 2.5GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Grameenphone 94 Taka 07 Days *121*3322#
Banglalink 209 Taka 30 Days *121*209#
➤ 3GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 58 Taka 03 Days *121*58#
Airtel 59 Taka 03 Days *123*059#
Grameenphone 63 Taka 03 Days *121*3258#
Teletalk 44Taka 05 Days *111*44#
 Teletalk 66 Taka 10 Days *111*66#
Teletalk 139 Taka 30 Days *111*531#
Grameenphone 249 Taka 30 Days *121*3278#
Banglalink 249 Taka 30 Days *121*249#
➤ 3.5GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Robi 63 Taka 03 Days visit site
Grameenphone 69 Taka 03 Days *121*3282#
Teletalk 78 Taka 10 Days *111*511#
➤ 4GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 64 Taka 03 Days *121*64#
Airtel 64 Taka 03 Days *123*064#
Robi 69 Taka 03 Days visit site
Grameenphone 76 Taka 03 Days *121*3060#
Banglalink 108 Taka 07 Days *121*108#
Grameenphone 114 Taka 07 Days *121*3344#
Robi 114 Taka 07 Days visit site
➤ 4.5GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Airtel 114 Taka 07 Days *123*114#

➤ 5GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Robi 123 Taka 07 Days visit site
Airtel 129 Taka 07 Days *123*129#
Teletalk 201 Taka 30 Days *111*532#
Grameenphone 299 Taka 30 Days *121*3458#
➤ 5.5GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 73 Taka 03 Days *121*73#
➤ 6GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Airtel 76 Taka 03 Days *123*076#
Grameenphone 124 Taka 07 Days *121*3434#
Banglalink 299 Taka 30 Days *121*299#
Grameenphone 308 Taka 30 Days *121*3280#
➤ 7GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Airtel 76 Taka 03 Days *123*076#
Grameenphone 124 Taka 07 Days *121*3434#
Banglalink 299 Taka 30 Days *121*299#
Grameenphone 308 Taka 30 Days *121*3280#
➤ 8GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 89 Taka 03 Days *121*89#
Grameenphone 129 Taka 07 Days *121*3329#
Robi 349 Taka 28 Days visit site
➤ 10GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Teletalk 97 Taka 10 Days *111*97#
Robi 129 Taka 07 Days Visit site
Banglalink 129 Taka 07 Days *121*129#
Teletalk 239 Taka 30 Days *111*550#
Grameenphone 349 Taka 30 Days *121*3474#
➤ 12GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Airtel 398 Taka 30 Days *123*398#
Banglalink 399 Taka 30 Days *121*399#

➤ 14GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Grameenphone 148 Taka 07 Days *121*3262#
Robi 148 Taka 07 Days visit site
➤ 15GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Grameenphone 398 Taka 30 Days *121*3334#
Airtel 497 Taka 30 Days *123*497#

➤ 18GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Grameenphone 159 Taka 07 Days visit site
➤ 20GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

 Banglalink 149 Taka 07 Days *121*149#
Grameenphone 198 Taka 07 Days *121*3133#
Teletalk 301 Taka 30 Days *111*552#
Robi 479 Taka 28 Days visit site
➤ 25GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 169 Taka 07 Days *121*169#
Teletalk 198 Taka 10 Days *111*198#
Robi 649 Taka 28 Days visit site
➤ 30GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Teletalk 344 Taka 30 Days *111*344#
Robi 399 Taka 30 Days
Grameenphone 409 Taka 30 Days *121*3442#
➤ 40GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Robi 449 Taka 30 days visit site
Banglalink 499 Taka 30 Days *121*499#
➤ 45GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Teletalk 445 Taka 30 Days *111*554#
Grameenphone 499 Taka 30 Days *121*3435#
Banglalink 699 Taka 30 Days *121*699#
➤ 50GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Grameenphone 519 Taka 30 Days *121*3351#
➤ 55GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Banglalink 999 Taka 30 Days *121*999#
➤ 75GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Robi 998 Taka 30 Days visit site
➤ 120GB Internet Pack

Operators Taka Duration Activation Code

Grameenphone 1499 Taka 30 Days *121*3437#

➤ Grameenphone net Packages | Compare Internet Packages

Grameenphone offers 4G speedy internet. Grameenphone speed is better than any phone company in
Bangladesh. However, they cost more than some phone companies.

Besides of that, many people use Grameenphone Internet for good spirits. Grameenphone offers 5MB
to 30GB internet for you. In addition, they have created separate offers for Facebook, Viber &
WhatsApp.

➤ Banglalink net Packages | Compare Internet Packages

With Banglalink 4G anyone can experience the world of the internet in a new way. HD video streaming,
Facebook live, video call, file download & upload will be so smooth that now the same things will feel
like new.

Banglalink has more internet packages for their users. 1GB, 2GB, 3GB is the most popular offer in this
operator.

➤ Airtel Internet Packages | Compare Internet Packages

Airtel is the most popular phone operator company for the young generation. Its offerings without
targeting the young society. Because of this operator is becoming popular day by day.

 Airtel Internet Pack List with All Activation Code. Any Airtel customer can accept this offer.

➤ Robi net Pack | Compare Internet Packages

Robi This Internet data volume can be used in the 2G/3G/4G network. All Prepaid customers can
purchase all of the above Robi MB offers.

Prepaid Robi Subscribers can purchase data packs by recharge. Prepaid and Postpaid both subscribers
can purchase net pack by dialing the USSD code.

New Call Rate Packages

New Call Rate has been introduced in Bangladesh after fiscal year 2023-21 declared. Call rate has risen
slightly after the budget declared.

New Call Rate 2023

According to notice published by Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Authority we have come to know that
all the call rates has been increased by 3%. All the cost that was previously 20% which is increased by
23%.

Last year vat charge was 20%. And this year the vat is 23%. So, if the call price is 100 Taka, then you have
to pay 123. So that Telecom cost for voice call, internet and SMS charges will be increased by Taka 3%.
https://bdexamhelp.com/new-call-rate/

https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Bangladesh-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-
Analyses