Business Report :
Bangladesh has witnessed a notable fall in internet subscriptions over the past four months, marking one of the sharpest declines in recent years, according to the recent data released by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
The steady downturn, beginning after a mid-2025 peak, signals a potential shift in the country’s long-standing digital growth trend.
BTRC figures show that the total number of internet users dropped to 131.49 million in October 2025, down from 135.99 million in July a loss of more than 4.5 million users in a short span.
The contraction was driven almost entirely by mobile internet, which saw subscriptions fall from 121.53 million in July to 116.87 million in October, reflecting weakening demand despite ongoing network expansion and bundled data packages offered by operators.
In contrast, fixed broadband connections showcased resilience. ISP and PSTN subscriptions rose slightly from 14.32 million in June and July to 14.62 million in October, indicating stable adoption among urban households and businesses that rely heavily on consistent high-speed connectivity.
The decline in internet subscriptions comes alongside stagnation in mobile user growth.
The country’s total mobile subscriber base slipped from 188.87 million in July to 187.46 million in October, underscoring a slowdown in SIM purchases and usage that had previously shown steady growth for more than a decade.
Among major operators, Grameenphone the largest telecom provider saw its user base fall from 86.64 million in July to 85.39 million in October. Robi maintained stability, posting 57.54 million subscribers in October.
Banglalink, however, continued its prolonged downward slide, losing nearly three million users over the past year, dropping to 37.81 million in October, compared with 40.53 million in November 2024. State-run Teletalk, in contrast, posted a minor improvement, rising from 6.56 million in November 2024 to 6.72 million in October 2025.
Industry observers attribute the overall decline to several converging factors. Economic pressures have reduced consumers’ ability to upgrade devices or maintain multiple SIMs. At the same time, rising internet prices, tighter SIM verification rules, and a saturated mobile market have collectively contributed to reduced activity. Many users are also shifting to shared home broadband connections to cope with rising data needs, further reducing mobile data dependence.
Telecom analysts believe the downturn may represent more than just a temporary dip. With both internet and mobile subscriptions declining or plateauing, they suggest that Bangladesh’s digital market may be entering a correction phase after years of rapid expansion.
Whether this signals a long-term slowdown or a momentary adjustment will depend on economic recovery, pricing strategies, and the sector’s ability to adapt to evolving user behaviour.
