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Bangladesh Telecommunications Report Q3 2009Product Type: Market Research ReportPublished by: Business Monitor International Published: July 2009 Product Code: R302-7094 Description BMI has fully updated the fixed-line and internet sections of this report, publishing latest data. At the endof April 2009, there were a total of 1.4mn fixed lines in Bangladesh, up from the 1.3mn announced in2008. This increase, despite most other markets worldwide reporting a drop due to the increasingaffordability of mobile services, has been led by the further liberalisation of the fixed-line sector.Although there have been a number of fixed-line operators in the market for some time, it has only beenin the last few years that the central zone market has been opened up to competition. Accounting for thebulk of fixed lines in Bangladesh, the central zone including the capital Dhaka has been under themonopoly of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL). The additional competition has meant that BTCL’s share of the market has been falling, reaching 62.5%in April 2009, down from the 69.3% reported in April 2008. That said, its closest rival Ranks Telecomremains some distance behind, with an 11.6% share, followed by Peoples Telecom, National Telecomand Dhaka Phone on 5.6%, 5.6% and 4.7%, respectively. They occupy the top half of the fixed-linemarket, occupied by 11 operators in total. Their leading positions have been bolstered by possessinglicences to operate in the central zone. Market positions in the broadband sector appear less obvious, largely because of conflicting orunavailable data. Despite this, the consensus remains that BTCL dominates the broadband market, inaddition to fixed line. Again, competition remains fierce, with no less than 79 national internet serviceproviders (ISPs), of which 53 are based in the central zone. One of the major obstacles to growth in the sector remains price; the cost of broadband services is beyondthe reach of the majority of Bangladeshis. Furthermore, PC ownership represents an additional expense,with penetration rates low. For the most part, internet access remains confined to educational centres andinternet cafés. That said, the government is increasingly supporting broadband, with the launch of its internet project,expected for completion by 2010, and consideration of a second submarine cable. This reflects efforts atgreater economic growth, which has been heavily impacted by the country’s status as a major exporter butone also dependent on remittances from expatriate workers, of which there are a total of 5.6mn. Inaddition, the licensing of WiMAX, VoIP and international gateways is also expected to help developmentof the sector. Due to the expansion of our fixed-line and broadband sectors, BMI has retained its mobile contentcoverage from Q209. We have however provided a full update to forecasts for mobile, in addition to fixedline, internet and broadband. Table of Contents
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