Internet speed reduced across Bangladesh due to unsettled bills

News Desk :
A submarine cable company has shut down the bandwidth of 19 of the country’s 34 International Internet Gateway (IIG) companies due to outstanding bills.

As a result, many internet customers in the country are getting slow internet service, reports media.

The 19 IIG companies collectively owe Tk384 crore to Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCPLC).

As a consequence of non-payment of dues, BSCPLC took the action to limit the average bandwidth of International Gateways (IGs) to 625 Gbps after midnight on Thursday.

According to industry experts, the impact of the slowed internet service may not be fully apparent due to the presence of International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) backups.

Additionally, the fact that it is a holiday is contributing to reduced internet usage since offices and courts are closed. The primary effects of the bandwidth limitations are anticipated to be more noticeable on Sunday when regular business activities resume.

Ookla, a US-based organization, has reported that Bangladesh currently holds the 111th position among 142 countries in terms of mobile internet speed, as outlined in the latest Speedtest Global Index.

The data discloses both download and upload speeds for mobile internet, offering insight into Bangladesh’s standing on the global stage.

As of the October report, mobile internet download speed in Bangladesh is recorded at 20.66 Mbps, with an upload speed of 10.06 Mbps.

This marks an improvement from November 2022 when Bangladesh ranked 119th globally, an improvement of eight positions within a year. During this period, the average download speed was 13.95 Mbps, and the upload speed was below 8 Mbps.