BTCL offers up to five times faster internet at old prices

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has announced a major upgrade to its internet services, increasing speeds up to five times across existing packages while keeping monthly prices unchanged.

The move comes as mobile operators and private broadband providers have significantly boosted internet speeds following Starlink’s arrival in Bangladesh in May last year. This has intensified competition in the local market.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser with executive authority over the post and telecommunications sector, said low-speed broadband packages are no longer commercially viable.

“After Starlink’s entry, a 5 Mbps broadband connection is no longer a sustainable business model, as users now expect much higher speeds. Internet service providers are delivering better services to meet this demand,” Taiyeb said.

He also said that the government has reduced submarine cable bandwidth prices by 10 percent and offered additional bulk discounts. These measures prompted wholesale internet providers to lower prices, which in turn allowed private ISPs to enhance their offerings at competitive rates.

“As a result, BTCL’s prices became higher than prevailing market rates. We have now adjusted its packages to make them competitive again,” Taiyeb added.

He said that, as a state-run company reliant on public resources, BTCL has a responsibility to ensure citizens benefit from its services. “Our objective is to ensure that people receive better value and improved service quality from a public sector operator,” he said.

The state-owned operator said the upgrade is aimed at improving digital access and affordability for customers nationwide.

In a statement issued yesterday, BTCL said all existing plans have been replaced with higher-speed alternatives at the same price points, offering more value for money.

Under the revised tariff, customers paying Tk 399 will now receive 20 Mbps under the new “Sashroyi-20” package, up from 5 Mbps under the “Sulav-5” plan. The Tk 500 package has also been upgraded, with speeds increasing from 12 Mbps to 25 Mbps under “Sashroyi-25”. For educational institutions, the Campus package has seen a major boost, with the Tk 500 plan now offering 50 Mbps, up from 15 Mbps.

Mid-range packages have been enhanced as well. 

The Tk 800 plan now provides 50 Mbps instead of 15 Mbps, while the Tk 1,050 package has jumped from 20 Mbps to 100 Mbps. Customers on the Tk 1,150 plan will receive 120 Mbps, compared with 25 Mbps previously. Higher-tier users will also see gains, with speeds rising to 130 Mbps at Tk 1,300, 150 Mbps at Tk 1,500, and 170 Mbps at Tk 1,700, up from 30 Mbps, 40 Mbps and 50 Mbps, respectively.

The company said the increased bandwidth will support a wide range of digital activities, including online education, remote work, high-definition video streaming and gaming.