Bangladesh Speed Test - Check Internet Performance

Cable Broadband

Two submarine cables connect Bangladesh to global networks through Bangladesh Submarine Cable PLC, a state-owned operator.

SEA-ME-WE 4 and SEA-ME-WE 5 currently provide service, with SEA-ME-WE 6 expected to go live in 2026. Bangladesh crossed the 4 terabytes per second threshold in real-time internet traffic as of August 2025. Once SEA-ME-WE 6 becomes operational, total capacity will reach 21 terabytes.

Four licensed submarine cable operators handle expansion: Summit Communications, CdNet Communications, Metacore Subcom Ltd, and BSCCL. Bandwidth demand stands at 9,000 Gbps currently, projected to reach 20,000 Gbps by mid-2027 and 50,000 Gbps by 2030.

Fiber Broadband

Domestic fiber optic infrastructure faces significant gaps. Bangladesh operates less than 200,000 km of fiber optic cable, well short of the 500,000 km needed for effective 5G deployment. A survey by BTRC shows 40% of rural towers lack fiber connections, causing speeds to drop below 2 Mbps in these areas.

Summit Communications operates the largest fiber optic network infrastructure with nationwide ITC, IIG, and ICX services. Link3 Technologies built fiber coverage across Dhaka and major cities, reaching over 100,000 retail connections by October 2021. Hundreds of smaller ISPs serve local markets with varying quality.

Mobile Networks

5G deployment began in 2025 with pilot launches. Robi launched 5G zones in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. Grameenphone announced 5G in all divisional cities.

Operators face strict rollout deadlines including fiberizing 80% of towers within three years and quality benchmarks. Only 3-4% of mobile users own 5G-compatible devices as of early 2025. Operators plan broader 5G expansion to other cities and local areas by 2026. 4G LTE covers 100% of the population with 99.80% 3G coverage as backup.

Urban Areas

Dhaka holds the strongest internet infrastructure with multiple fiber ISP choices and improving 5G coverage from operators. Fixed broadband speeds average higher in the capital, with Link3 delivering 42.8 Mbps average download in Q3 2025, the fastest measured speed among ISPs.

Residents choose from Link3, DFN Internet, Amber IT, MetroNet, Carnival, and dozens of smaller providers with plans from BDT 500 for 10 Mbps to BDT 3,000 for 100+ Mbps. Peak hour congestion between 8pm-11pm can reduce speeds 30-40% in dense areas.

Chattogram enjoys strong competition with multiple ISPs serving the port city. Divisional cities including Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, and Rangpur have 3-5 ISP choices with speeds of 20-50 Mbps on fixed broadband. These urban centers account for most fixed broadband subscriptions. Internet penetration in urban areas reached 78% by 2025, with 71.4% of urban residents reporting internet use.

Rural Areas

Rural areas face a sharp digital divide. While mobile 4G coverage reaches 100% of the population, actual speeds in rural areas drop to 15-25 Mbps on mobile networks. Internet access in rural areas increased from 28% in 2020 to 49% in 2025, but only 36.5% of rural people reported using the internet compared to 71.4% in cities.

Fixed broadband penetration remains extremely low outside major cities. Many villages lack fiber connections, forcing residents to depend on expensive mobile data plans. The cost poses a considerable financial burden given rural income levels. Laying fiber to every village remains costly and challenging, leaving many rural communities underserved.

Grameenphone dominates as the largest mobile operator with 45.7% market share and 86.51 million subscribers as of September 2025. Founded in 1997, Grameenphone operates the most extensive network with the widest rural coverage.

The operator announced 5G launches in all divisional cities and maintains the strongest brand recognition. Grameenphone continues to lose market share gradually to competitors but remains the incumbent leader.

Robi Axiata holds 30.6% market share with 57.40 million subscribers, the second-largest operator. Robi launched pilot 5G zones in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet in 2025, taking an early lead in 5G deployment. The operator focuses on data services and urban markets with competitive pricing. Robi gained share consistently from Grameenphone over recent years.

Banglalink commands 20.2% with 37.95 million subscribers. The operator positions itself as a value-focused brand with affordable data packages targeting budget-conscious users. Banglalink's network quality improved in recent years but trails Grameenphone and Robi in coverage and speeds.

State-run Teletalk maintains 3.5% with 6.59 million subscribers. Despite its small market share, Teletalk gained subscribers from the private operators. The government operator serves as a strategic player in the market.

For fixed broadband, Link3 Technologies leads as the largest retail ISP with over 100,000 active connections. Founded in 2000, Link3 provides nationwide coverage with fiber infrastructure across Dhaka and major cities.

Link3 delivered the fastest measured speeds at 42.8 Mbps average in Q3 2025. Other major fixed broadband ISPs include DFN Internet, Amber IT, MetroNet, Carnival, and Summit Communications, which operates the largest fiber optic network infrastructure with wholesale ITC, IIG, and ICX services.

Affordability

Internet costs a meaningful portion of Bangladeshi household income. Fixed broadband pricing dropped significantly through 2025 as competition intensified and government policy pushed affordability.

The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh reduced entry pricing to BDT 500/month for 10 Mbps from the previous BDT 700, effective July 2025. This pricing shift makes basic broadband more accessible to middle-income households.

Fixed Broadband Pricing

Fixed broadband entry starts at BDT 500/month for 10 Mbps, BDT 700/month for 20 Mbps, and BDT 1,100/month for 30 Mbps from most ISPs following industry-wide price reductions. Higher speeds cost BDT 1,500-3,000/month for 50-100+ Mbps. State-owned BTCL offers competitive packages: BDT 399/month for 20 Mbps and BDT 500/month for 25 Mbps.

Contract and Fees

Link3 Technologies offers premium packages up to 210 Mbps at BDT 4,625/month. Installation fees typically run BDT 1,000-2,000 including router.

Mobile Data Pricing

Mobile data remains the primary internet access method for most Bangladeshis. Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink, and Teletalk sell prepaid data packages from daily bundles to monthly plans. Prepaid dominates over postpaid due to income patterns and user preference for flexibility.

Fixed Broadband Pricing

Satellite internet from Starlink launched in Bangladesh with Residential Lite at BDT 4,200/month and standard Residential at BDT 6,000/month, both offering unlimited data. These prices remain far above fixed broadband and serve only users in areas without terrestrial options.

5G Rollout

5G deployment began in 2025 with pilot launches in major cities. Robi launched 5G zones in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet as the first operator. Grameenphone announced 5G in all divisional cities.

Fiber Deployment

Operators plan broader expansion to other cities and local areas by 2026. Only 3-4% of mobile users own 5G-compatible devices as of early 2025, limiting adoption. Operators face strict rollout deadlines including fiberizing 80% of towers within three years.

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission imposed quality benchmarks and spectrum fee discounts as incentives for fast deployment.

4G LTE coverage reached 100% of the population by 2025, with 3G covering 99.80% as backup. Mobile internet subscriptions hit 119.29 million out of 188.45 million total mobile subscribers, showing strong mobile data adoption. 4G serves as the primary internet access technology for most Bangladeshis, especially in rural areas.

Fixed fiber broadband expanded to 14.46 million subscriptions by late 2025, concentrated in Dhaka, Chattogram, and divisional cities. Link3 Technologies crossed 100,000 retail connections in October 2021 as the largest ISP. Hundreds of smaller ISPs serve local markets. Fiber infrastructure faces gaps with less than 200,000 km deployed against 500,000 km needed for effective 5G coverage.

Internet penetration at the household level reached 56.2% in Q1 of financial year 2025-26, up from 50.4% the previous year and 43.6% in 2023. Individual internet usage rose from 44.5% in 2023 to 48.9% in 2025. The digital divide between urban and rural areas narrowed but remains significant, with urban penetration at 78% versus 49% rural.