Across the country, there is growing enthusiasm for satellite-based internet services like Starlink. Simultaneously, the number of mobile internet users is steadily declining.
While broadband users are increasing, the number of mobile internet subscribers is continuously decreasing. Despite individuals using multiple SIM cards on a single phone, the total number of mobile SIM connections is also dropping.
According to data from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), in the seven months leading up to January this year, around 9.4 million internet subscribers and 13.2 million mobile internet users were lost.
The latest statistics on mobile and internet subscribers, published by BTRC on March 6, show that in June last year, the number of mobile subscribers was 196 million.
However, by January this year, it had dropped to 186.6 million. During the same period, the number of internet users stood at approximately 129.2 million.
According to BTRC, any mobile user who has used their phone at least once in the last 90 days is considered an active subscriber. Even by this measure, the number of mobile internet users dropped to 116 million in January this year.
Currently, the total number of internet users in the country, combining both mobile and broadband connections, is around 130 million, down from approximately 142.2 million in June last year.
During this period, broadband internet users slightly increased to around 14 million. About 3,500 ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are offering broadband services nationwide, while three multinational mobile operators and one state-run operator provide mobile internet services.
According to the financial report of Grameenphone, the country’s oldest mobile operator, the number of active data users was 49.3 million in the second quarter of 2024 (April-June).
However, by the fourth quarter (October-December), this number dropped to 48 million.
Grameenphone's financial report also indicates that its customers have reduced their spending by an average of 13 BDT. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the average monthly expenditure per customer was 161 BDT, which dropped to 148 BDT in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Similarly, Robi’s average revenue per customer declined from 147 BDT to 142 BDT.
The financial report of Robi, a growing operator listed on the stock market, states that in the fourth quarter of last year, the number of 4G data users was 36.3 million, down from 37.6 million in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, another operator, Banglalink, saw its annual revenue grow by 14.4% in the 2023 fiscal year, reaching 61.5 billion BDT compared to the previous year.