In a significant move aimed at strengthening law and order, curbing cybercrime, and ensuring personal security, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has deactivated over 8.8 million SIM cards across the country. An additional 100,000 SIMs remain temporarily suspended due to ongoing legal cases. This mass deactivation has noticeably impacted both mobile users and mobile internet consumption.
According to BTRC sources, the government decided last year to reduce the number of SIMs held per customer amid rising cybercrime and security concerns. Under directives from the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, more than ten SIMs per individual were blocked starting November 2025.
From January 2026, the ministry has instructed the BTRC to further reduce the number of SIMs per user to five. However, citing public dissatisfaction and potential unrest, the BTRC has deferred implementation until after the 13th Parliamentary elections.
Brigadier General S.M. Moniruzzaman, Director General of Systems and Services at BTRC, told the media, “Our directive was to reduce SIMs to ten per customer. This identified nearly 8.9 million excess SIMs, of which over 8.8 million have now been deactivated. The remaining one hundred thousand are pending due to VIP and other ongoing legal matters, but these will also be deactivated soon.”
He added, “Although the ministry has instructed us to bring SIMs down to five per person, we are postponing this due to the upcoming elections. After the polls, the reduction will be implemented.”
The reduction in SIMs has already affected mobile and mobile internet usage. Since the launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) and the SIM deactivation programme, the country has seen a decrease of approximately 1.8 million mobile users and 6.26 million mobile internet subscribers over the past six months.
Mobile and Internet Subscriber Trends
| Period | Mobile Users (Millions) | Mobile Internet Users (Millions) | Broadband Users (Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2024 | 194.2 | 127.5 | 13.5 |
| July 2025 | 188.7 | 121.5 | 13.5 |
| November 2025 | 187.0 | 115.2 | 14.6 |
While mobile internet users have declined, broadband subscriptions have continued to rise, reflecting a shift toward fixed-line high-speed internet. Experts attribute the decline in mobile users to SIM reductions, increased broadband adoption, post-pandemic behavioural changes, and the rising cost of mobile internet.
Sumon Ahmed Sabir, a technology analyst, explained, “The reduction in SIMs naturally reduces mobile usage, which also affects mobile internet subscriptions. Meanwhile, more people are switching to broadband for stable connectivity. The decline is not necessarily financial—it reflects changes in user behaviour post-COVID-19.”
Brigadier General Moniruzzaman noted, “Reducing SIMs to ten per customer has a limited market impact, but lowering them to five could significantly affect revenue and usage patterns.”