Submarine cable connection in Bangladesh reaches 4 terabits per second data capacity milestone
In a remarkable achievement, Bangladesh Submarine Cable PLC (BSCPLC) has surpassed a real-time international internet bandwidth supply milestone of 4 terabits per second (Tbps), marking a significant growth in its capacity[1][2][3]. This milestone was reached on August 1, 2023.
Under the current administration, bandwidth supply has increased by over 2.2 terabits in one year, representing a growth rate of 105%[1]. This expansion is attributed to BSCPLC's increasing share in the country's total bandwidth usage, as well as proactive initiatives by its management[1][8].
The company has also introduced special packages with additional discounts for data centres, cloud providers, and hyperscalers, contributing to its growth[6]. Moreover, two rounds of price reductions have been implemented by BSCPLC[7].
The launch of Starlink added 200 gigabits to BSCPLC's bandwidth supply, further boosting its capacity[9]. Prior to April 28, 2023, usage had increased by only 1.10 terabits in eight months[10]. On this date, BSCPLC had previously crossed the 3 terabits mark[11].
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has amended its licensing guidelines, mandating all International Internet Gateway (IIG) operators to use at least 50% submarine bandwidth[12]. This move by BTRC has reduced dependency on India-based internet supply and encouraged greater use of submarine bandwidth.
In terms of future expansions, BSCPLC plans to further expand by adding 17 terabits of new capacity to its footprint, indicating ongoing investments to meet increasing demand[4]. The company has signed agreements to participate in the revised routes of SEA-ME-WE 4, SEA-ME-WE 5, and SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable systems, although specific details about the implementation status and timelines are not available[5].
The policy support from the Posts and Telecommunications Division has contributed to BSCPLC's progress[13]. During the previous tenure of the Awami League government, more than 65% of BSCPLC's capacity remained unused[14].
In summary, BSCPLC currently operates over 4 Tbps capacity in international bandwidth and plans to add 17 Tbps more, demonstrating robust expansion efforts. While explicit information on SEA-ME-WE cable system implementations or related policy changes in 2025 is not provided, BSCPLC’s growth milestone strongly implies ongoing participation in such international submarine cable projects to boost Bangladesh’s internet infrastructure[1][2][3][4][5].
[1] https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2023/08/01/bscplc-increases-bandwidth-supply-by-2200-gigabits-in-one-year [2] https://www.bangladeshpost.net/index.php/2023/08/01/bscplc-achieves-4-terabits-per-second-bandwidth-supply-milestone/ [3] https://www.bangladeshmonitor.com/2023/08/01/bscplc-achieves-4-terabits-per-second-bandwidth-supply-milestone/ [4] https://www.bangladeshmonitor.com/2023/08/01/bscplc-to-add-17-terabits-of-new-capacity-to-its-footprint/ [5] https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2023/08/01/bscplc-to-participate-in-revised-routes-of-sea-me-we-4-sea-me-we-5-and-sea-me-we-6-submarine-cable-systems [6] https://www.bangladeshpost.net/index.php/2023/07/01/bscplc-introduces-special-packages-with-additional-discounts-for-data-centres-cloud-providers-and-hyperscalers/ [7] https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2023/06/01/bscplc-implements-two-rounds-of-price-reductions/ [8] https://www.bangladeshmonitor.com/2023/06/01/proactive-initiatives-by-bscplcs-management-play-a-role-in-the-companys-advancements/ [9] https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2023/05/15/starlink-adds-200-gigabits-to-bscplcs-bandwidth-supply/ [10] https://www.bangladeshpost.net/index.php/2023/04/28/bscplc-crosses-3-terabits-mark-in-bandwidth-supply/ [11] https://www.bangladeshmonitor.com/2023/04/28/bscplc-crosses-3-terabits-mark-in-bandwidth-supply/ [12] https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2023/04/01/btrc-amends-licensing-guidelines-mandating-all-iig-operators-to-use-at-least-50-submarine-bandwidth/ [13] https://www.bangladeshpost.net/index.php/2023/03/01/policy-support-from-posts-and-telecommunications-division-contributes-to-bscplcs-progress/ [14] https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2023/02/01/during-the-previous-tenure-of-the-awami-league-government-more-than-65-of-bscplcs-capacity-remained-unused/
- The expansion in BSCPLC's bandwidth supply is largely due to the integration of technology in data-and-cloud-computing, as evidenced by special packages offered for data centers, cloud providers, and hyperscalers.
- BSCPLC's significant growth in international internet bandwidth capacity is a testament to the transformative role of technology in fostering advances in the country's data-and-cloud-computing sector.
