Carnival Internet, the top broadband provider in Bangladesh, has introduced the first ever Ecosystem Marketplace App on Thursday.
The app offers much more than just services related to internet packages or bill payment – it integrates digital healthcare, micro-insurance, online learning, and e-commerce opportunities into one platform, Carnival officials said in the launching event, according to a press release.
Carnival Internet started in 2015, quickly growing into a dominant force in the broadband sector. With a license from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the company now operates across 403 upazilas, connecting over 31,000 villages and nearly 400,000 rural households.
Today, over 4 million users from both urban and rural areas depend on Carnival, making it Bangladesh’s number one broadband provider, as ranked by APNIC in the Asia-Pacific region.
What sets Carnival apart is its commitment to innovation. The company, under its parent organization Dotlines Group, has developed proprietary technologies such as Catena, an Operations & Business Support System, and Audra, a Network Security Platform.
These advancements have helped Carnival stay ahead of the competition, positioning the company not only as an internet service provider but also as a key player in changing the daily lives of its users.
However, despite the technological strides, Bangladesh faces significant challenges.
According to Carnival, Youth unemployment is at 47 percent, with 80 percent of young people lacking the skills necessary for the job market.
The country’s healthcare system is stretched, with just seven doctors for every 10,000 people. Families often spend a significant portion of their savings on medical care, while insurance penetration remains low, at only 0.5 percent of the GDP.
To address these gaps, Carnival Internet has collaborated with its sister companies in Dotlines Group to build an ecosystem that offers more than just connectivity. Through Carnival Care, the app provides telemedicine and digital healthcare services, partnering with global brands like Abbott to ensure affordable healthcare, particularly in rural areas. Carnival Assure aggregates various insurers, making health and life insurance more accessible to the masses.
The app also introduces Carnival Learning, a platform offering online courses in Bangla to help users build skills, prepare for freelancing, and improve their English through a partnership with BBC Janala. Additionally, bSelar offers a unique opportunity for users to start e-commerce businesses without upfront investment, opening doors to income-generating opportunities across Bangladesh.
“For Carnival, broadband is more than just providing connectivity—it’s a tool for social change,” .
By combining internet access with educational opportunities, healthcare, and financial services, the Carnival Ecosystem Marketplace App aims to transform the lives of millions, from cities to remote villages, across Bangladesh.