Scrap SIM taxes, VAT on spectrum fees
The GSMA, a global association of mobile operators, has urged Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) to withdraw the 7.5 percent VAT imposed on spectrum payments and abolish SIM-related taxes in its proposals for the upcoming FY2026-27 national budget.
14 May 2026, 00:00 AM
BTRC to resume drives against illegal handsets
Alongside mobile phones, the regulator will also take action against other illegal radio and telecom devices
12 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Broadband sector set for major overhaul
Reform plan would reduce ISP tiers, formalise informal operators and improve internet speeds
11 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Telcos seek VAT removal on spectrum fees
Mobile operators have called on the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to withdraw value-added tax (VAT) on spectrum and spectrum-related fees, arguing the levy contradicts global norms and undermines investment in the sector.
5 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Teletalk gets 10 MHz in 700 MHz band despite huge dues
The decision was taken at a recent Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission meeting
4 May 2026, 00:00 AM
The boom is over: How Bangladesh’s startups hit a wall
After raising over a billion dollars, startups are struggling to make payroll -- and the foreign money is no longer coming
25 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Banglalink, SpaceX seek nod for satellite-to-mobile trial
Banglalink and Elon Musk’s SpaceX have jointly applied to the telecom regulator in Bangladesh to launch trials of telecom services through satellite, allowing users’ smartphones to connect directly to satellites through a mobile operator’s network.
23 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Mobile signals weaken as blackouts, fuel shortages spread
Telecom companies say nationwide connectivity is under pressure as outages hit towers and data infrastructure
22 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Sheba’s fuel queue service draws mixed reactions
On-demand service platform Sheba.xyz has launched a “Fuel Refuelling Driver Service” that allows customers to hire a driver to queue at a filling station on their behalf and refuel the vehicle. The move has drawn mixed reactions online as fuel shortages continue to grip Dhaka and other cities.
21 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Sheba.xyz launches service to queue in line for vehicle owners at filling stations
The service is priced at Tk 175 per hour during the day and Tk 225 per hour at night
20 April 2026, 15:27 PM
Telcos warn of nationwide disruption amid energy crisis
Bangladesh’s mobile operators have warned of an imminent nationwide telecom disruption as a deepening electricity and fuel crisis pushes networks to the brink, raising serious concerns over the vulnerability of data centres and the wider digital economy.
20 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Mobile number portability languishing for BTRC indifference
How many people know that one can switch operators in Bangladesh without losing one’s mobile number? Not many.
20 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Rural areas lag behind as digital divide persists
A sharp digital divide continues to shape Bangladesh’s connectivity landscape, with a 32.1 percentage points gap in internet use between rural and urban populations in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to the latest Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) survey.
17 April 2026, 00:00 AM
BTRC to unlock more low-band spectrum to boost coverage
The telecom regulator has decided to allocate spectrum from the 850 MHz and Extended GSM (EGSM) bands for a month-long trial to examine potential interference between the two frequencies.
7 April 2026, 00:00 AM
LDC graduation could cost Bangladesh $17.5b in exports: UNCTAD
The figure represents nearly a third of the country’s $54.8 billion in total exports recorded in 2023
1 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Starlink gains just 3,500 users after 8 months in Bangladesh
Elon Musk’s Starlink has received a lukewarm response in Bangladesh in the first eight months since its launch in the country, as prices up to ten times higher than local broadband fail to attract subscribers.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM
Veon eyes satellite-based call service in Bangladesh
Global telecom investor Veon plans to introduce direct-to-cell satellite connectivity in Bangladesh, allowing smartphones to connect straight to satellites through a partnership with Starlink and its subsidiary, Banglalink.
26 March 2026, 00:06 AM
BTRC approves experimental facial verification trial
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has approved a proposal from mobile operators to test a new system that would allow citizens to register SIM cards using real-time facial “liveness” verification.
19 March 2026, 00:00 AM
Excessive spectrum for Wi-Fi under US trade deal imperils revenue
Bangladesh also risks falling out of step with Asia-Pacific spectrum plans by opening the entire 6 GHz band for unlicensed use
18 March 2026, 00:00 AM
Internet subscriber base shrinks by 70 lakh in 6 months
Bangladesh’s internet subscriber base has been on the decline for the last six consecutive months till January, with around 70 lakh users dropping off the network since August last year, mainly due to a steady fall in mobile internet subscriptions.
15 March 2026, 00:00 AM