Bangladesh could face a major strain on its internet infrastructure as international bandwidth demand continues to rise rapidly while decisions on establishing additional submarine cable connections remain uncertain, industry stakeholders have warned.
They fear that unless new capacity is secured in time, bandwidth shortages could become a significant constraint on the country’s digital economy over the coming decade. The growing use of video streaming, cloud-based services, data centres, artificial intelligence, online education, digital payments and technology-driven industrial operations is expected to push demand considerably higher.
The concerns were raised at a workshop titled ‘The Need for New Submarine Cables to Protect Digital Sovereignty and Meet Future Bandwidth Demand’, held at a resort near Dhaka on Monday (31 August). The event was organised by the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh.
The workshop was chaired by the organisation’s president, Masuduzzaman Robin, while its general secretary, Faruk Hossain, also addressed the gathering. Mashiur Rahman, chief executive officer of C.D. Net Communications Limited, and Mahmud Shahed, project lead at Metacore Subcom Limited, made presentations covering the history of submarine cables, Bangladesh’s need for additional international connectivity, investment requirements and digital sovereignty.
Metacore Subcom Limited managing director Ahmed Zunaid and chief executive officer Mohammad Aminul Hakim were also present.
Hakim said connecting Bangladesh to privately operated submarine cables would strengthen the country’s digital sovereignty and increase competition in the international bandwidth market. He claimed that the arrival of additional submarine cable capacity could potentially reduce internet prices by up to 50 per cent, while improving quality of service by 25 to 30 per cent and reducing latency.
He also said greater submarine cable capacity could increase internet usage in Bangladesh by 20 to 30 per cent. According to him, international terrestrial cable operators are also a significant factor in the country’s bandwidth market.
Demand has surged over the past decade
Data presented at the workshop showed a dramatic rise in Bangladesh’s international bandwidth consumption.
In 2013, the country used only around 50 gigabits per second. By 2018, consumption had risen to approximately 0.76 terabits. It reached 1.78 terabits in 2020, 4.2 terabits in 2022, 6.86 terabits in 2024 and around 13.5 terabits in 2026.
That represents an increase of roughly 260 times in 13 years.
The projections presented at the workshop indicate that demand could rise to 19.1 terabits in 2027 and around 27 terabits in 2028. It could then reach 54 terabits by 2030, 305 terabits by 2035 and as much as 432 terabits by 2036.
Such growth would be driven not only by conventional internet use but also by the expansion of data-intensive digital services. Video streaming requires substantial network capacity, while cloud computing and data centres depend on reliable high-capacity international connections. The growing adoption of artificial intelligence, online learning, digital financial services and industrial digitalisation could place further pressure on existing infrastructure.
Heavy reliance on two submarine cables
Bangladesh currently relies primarily on two government-owned submarine cable systems, SEA-ME-WE-4 and SEA-ME-WE-5. Their capacities were cited at 4.6 terabits and 2.5 terabits respectively. Additional international bandwidth is imported through international terrestrial cable routes.
Industry representatives argued that such dependence on a limited number of submarine connections creates a structural vulnerability. If one cable experiences a technical fault or requires maintenance, the remaining international routes may have to handle a much larger share of national traffic.
The workshop highlighted the difference between Bangladesh and several regional countries in terms of submarine cable connectivity. India is connected to 19 international submarine cables, Malaysia to 23, Thailand to 12 and the Philippines to 19, according to the figures presented.
Bangladesh’s comparatively limited number of submarine connections means that diversification has become increasingly important as internet consumption expands.
Third cable may not be enough for long-term needs
Although the government’s third submarine cable, SEA-ME-WE-6, is expected to add capacity to the country’s international connectivity, industry stakeholders believe it will not by itself provide a long-term solution.
One of the concerns is the expected end of the operational life of SEA-ME-WE-4 in 2030. At the same time, demand is projected to grow sharply before and after that point. The workshop projections suggest that Bangladesh could face a bandwidth shortfall of around 20 terabits by 2028.
This creates a narrow window for planning. Submarine cable projects require substantial preparation, financing, regulatory approval, construction and deployment before they become operational. Waiting until shortages become acute could therefore leave limited room to respond.
Private investment seen as a possible solution
Against this backdrop, industry stakeholders have called for approval of new privately operated submarine cable projects.
According to the figures presented at the workshop, proposed cables could add around 51 terabits of additional capacity, taking total capacity to approximately 67 terabits. The additional infrastructure could increase competition, reduce dependence on bandwidth imported through terrestrial routes via India and create scope for lower wholesale bandwidth prices.
Industry representatives believe the benefits could eventually extend to consumers through lower internet prices and improved service quality. However, the extent of any reduction would ultimately depend on market conditions, operating costs, competition and how additional capacity is incorporated into the country’s wider telecommunications infrastructure.
The discussion also placed the issue in the broader context of Bangladesh’s digital development. Reliable international connectivity is increasingly important for businesses that depend on cloud platforms, digital transactions, online services and international data exchange. Any prolonged capacity constraint could affect not only internet users but also sectors that are becoming increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure.
Participants stressed that the decision is therefore not simply about meeting today’s bandwidth requirements. It concerns whether Bangladesh will have sufficient and diversified international connectivity to support its digital ambitions through 2030, 2035 and beyond.
They warned that delays in planning and approving new submarine cable projects could leave the country struggling to secure capacity when demand accelerates. The industry also fears that prolonged indecision could result in the loss of another strategic opportunity, similar to what stakeholders describe as Bangladesh’s earlier failure to capitalise on the opportunity associated with SEA-ME-WE-3.
With international bandwidth demand projected to multiply over the next decade, the workshop underscored the need for Bangladesh to plan its submarine cable infrastructure well ahead of the point at which shortages become critical.
