The government plans Tk2,500 smartphones and a unified digital identity system to boost connectivity, as nearly half the population remains offline , Prime Minister’s Adviser on Telecom and ICT Rehan Asif Asad said on Saturday.
He spoke at a discussion on the new telecom policy organised by the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB) in the capital on Saturday.
Around half the population still does not use smartphones which is a major barrier to digital services.
“We want to put smartphones with minimum features into people’s hands at around Tk2,500. The government is reviewing taxation, production and service delivery to lower costs,”
Internet quality remains weak despite strong market size, he said. Bangladesh ranks among the top 10 in mobile subscriptions but around 90 to 100 in service quality, while broadband ranks 141st out of 153 countries. Nepal and Bhutan are ahead in South Asia.
Asad described the gap as a “collective failure” and a “collective opportunity”, pointing to persistent rural-urban disparities.
According to him, the government targets 5G rollout and broadband speeds of at least 100 megabits per second for 90 per cent of the population.
A unified “one citizen, one digital identity and digital wallet” system will link identity with banking and mobile financial services within 12 to 18 months, drawing on models such as Singapore and Estonia.
Artificial intelligence will be integrated into education and industry.
“Artificial intelligence is not a threat for us. It is an opportunity for Bangladesh,” he said, citing gains in business process outsourcing and freelancing.
He criticised the telecom tax structure, saying users receive Tk38 in value out of Tk100 spent, with Tk62 going to taxes.
The government aims to raise user value to Tk80 to Tk90 through reforms, noting Bangladesh is among the highest telecom tax collectors globally.
He said priorities include consumer protection, economic growth, digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, and raising foreign direct investment to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Chairman Major General retd Emdad Ul Bari called for large investment in fibre networks and telecom towers, warning slow infrastructure rollout could delay advanced services.
“The telecom sector is a connectivity business where collaboration is essential,” he said.
Participants including Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh President M A Hakim, Fiber@Home Chairman Moynul Haque Siddiqui, and Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh Secretary General Lt Col retd Mohammad Zulfikar.
Local entrepreneurs warned that allowing up to 85 per cent foreign direct investment in cross-layer licensing could disadvantage local operators, increase market concentration, and raise control risks over fibre networks, international gateways, and data systems.
They also stressed retaining interconnection exchange and national internet exchange for regulatory oversight.
Journalist Masud Kamal pointed to broadband disparities, saying urban users often enjoy free Wi-Fi while rural users struggle to upload content.
Stakeholders called for a balanced policy to protect local investment, ensure fair competition, strengthen regulation, and support innovation through lower taxes and incentives for technologies such as artificial intelligence and the internet of things.
Technologist Sumon Ahmed Sabir presented the keynote paper. The event was moderated by TRNB President Samir Kumar Dey and began with a welcome speech by General Secretary Masuduzzaman Robin.
