The number of mobile internet subscribers in Bangladesh has declined by 13.1 million over the past seven months, dropping to 116 million by January 2025, according to industry data.
This includes a loss of 10 lakh (1 million) subscribers in January alone.
Industry experts cite several reasons for the subscriber decline, including a 50% increase in SIM tax, a reduction in subsidized SIM sales, and economic hardships.
The government raised the SIM tax by 50% to Tk 300 at the start of the fiscal year. Previously, telecom operators heavily subsidized SIM sales—sometimes offering them for free—to expand their customer base.
However, following the tax hike, smaller operators like Banglalink and Robi cut back on subsidies, making it difficult to attract new customers.
Taimur Rahman, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer of Banglalink, said, “The increased SIM tax makes it very difficult for mobile operators to subsidize SIMs as heavily as before. This is especially challenging for smaller operators, while larger telecom companies can still afford higher subsidies, creating a competitive imbalance.”
Shahed Alam, Robi’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer, highlighted that the higher cost of SIM cards had discouraged users from acquiring multiple connections, which further limits access to mobile internet, particularly for marginalized communities.
The fall in mobile internet subscribers has negatively impacted e-commerce and online businesses, which rely on digital connectivity for sales and user engagement.
Fahim Mashroor, CEO of Bdjobs, noted that his company has struggled to expand its user base due to declining internet adoption.
“Internet-based businesses are already experiencing a downturn,” he said.
This trend could slow down Bangladesh’s digital transformation, as fewer users mean lower engagement for online services, from job portals to e-commerce platforms.
In contrast to mobile internet, broadband subscriptions have seen a modest increase over the past seven months, adding 0.5 million new users to reach 14 million.
As of January 2025, Bangladesh had a total of 130 million internet users, including both mobile and broadband subscribers.
