Bangladesh took a giant leap in terms of redefining broadband from 128 Kbps to 1 Mbps at the end of last year. Such politically motivated administrative intervention has, however, failed to improve its abysmal broadband profile in the region.
The Broadband Commission, in conjunction with ITU and UNESCO, has published the “State of Broadband 2013: Universalizing Broadband” report on September 21, 2013. Various indicators of broadband covering 194 countries until the end of 2012 have been captured in this publication.
It shows that Bangladesh ranks 161 with 6.3% Internet users, only ahead of Afghanistan’s 5.5% (165) and Myanmar’s 1.1% (189). The country ranks 138 with 0.3% fixed broadband penetration compared to Cambodia’s 0.2% penetration and 143rd position worldwide. In mobile broadband, Bangladesh has secured 137th position with 0.2% penetration outranking Thailand (0.1% penetration and ranks 140).
Bangladesh government had supplied the broadband indicators, considering 128 Kbps speed, to ITU. Despite proposed commercial launch of 3G in a month or two, the country’s broadband ranking will further slide this year. Because, the government is no more in a position to report any connection bellow 1 Mbps as broadband. And 3G mobile, with 10 MHz spectrum to Grameenphone and 5 MHz each to the remaining three private operators, will be constrained in delivering broadband.
Bangladesh government cannot blame anyone but itself for such a consequence.
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