In August, Bangladesh experienced a notable decline in mobile internet subscribers, with the number dropping by nearly one crore to 12.69 crore, marking the second consecutive month of decrease. Shahed Alam, the chief corporate and regulatory officer at Robi, attributed this trend to customers discontinuing secondary SIMs following new restrictions on short-term data packages.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) recently revised mobile internet package guidelines, eliminating three-day and 15-day data options to streamline offerings and improve user experience. This change extended the minimum validity for data packages to seven days, reflecting concerns that shorter durations were inadequate for many users. However, the removal of three-day packages has sparked dissatisfaction among consumers, particularly among Robi and Banglalink users who relied on these affordable, flexible plans.

Despite the monthly decline, there was a year-on-year increase of 5.99 percent in mobile internet subscribers, totaling 12.69 crore. Meanwhile, the number of broadband internet subscribers remained stable at 1.35 crore, as reported quarterly by the BTRC through extensive market analysis and data collection from internet service providers.

Overall, the total internet subscriber base, which includes both mobile and broadband users, now stands at 14.05 crore. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, internet usage among individuals aged five and older has risen to 41 percent, an increase of 1.8 percentage points. However, the findings reveal a persistent digital divide, particularly between urban and rural areas, with only 37.1 percent of internet users residing in villages. Furthermore, disparities in access along gender lines have worsened, highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving equitable digital inclusion across the country.