ED: Internet connectivity is now a necessity, so let’s make it a priority

One of the most fundamental requirements of achieving Digital Bangladesh is, no doubt, the quick, efficient, and cheap availability of internet services throughout the nation. 

Right now, the nation’s internet access is in crisis: All internet services rely on two submarine cables in the hands of the Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company (BSCCL), which has seen significant improvement in its capabilities as bandwidth and speed have increased over the course of the last decade or so, now able to deliver up to 1,450Gbps, a 1,400% increase since its humble beginning.

However, shelf life for both of these cables is coming to an end and, according to people within the industry, will only last us for another year or so, leading to bandwidth scarcity by 2022.

While the government did approve a Tk693.2 crore project last year to set up a third submarine cable in this regard, one that will add a further six terabytes per second of bandwidth to our existing capabilities, the plan is to implement this by June 2024 and, keeping our existing inefficiencies and bureaucracy in mind, it could be even longer until it sees the light of day.

Knowing how crucial internet services have become to the nation, both from a social progress perspective and economic one, it is absolutely essential that the current bandwidth does not reach 100% before the implementation of the third cable, which could see millions of people across the nation missing out on essential internet service necessary for life and livelihood, particularly at a time when many are working from home.

It is hoped that the government understands the need of the hour and brings in a third submarine cable post-haste, without which Digital Bangladesh will most definitely hit a major roadblock.