DHAKA: The International Internet Gateway Association of Bangladesh (IIGAB) has put forth a proposal to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to lower internet prices. This initiative, if accepted, could significantly reduce the cost of internet services for consumers across the country. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, IIGAB officials revealed that they submitted the proposal to the BTRC on October 29. The proposal suggests reducing the price of bandwidth by offering various slabs compared to the current pricing structure. This move is aimed at enabling Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to lower costs by Taka 50-75 per mega bandwidth, depending on the slab, thereby lessening the financial burden on customers. The IIGAB emphasized that this reduction in bandwidth prices will directly benefit consumers by lowering their internet expenses. IIGAB President Aminul Hakim highlighted the initiative as a step toward increasing internet usage and expanding access to the internet at the grassroots level. He noted that this proposal aligns with the government's aspirations to make internet services more affordable for the general public. The press release from IIGAB also mentioned that the current pricing of bandwidth in different slabs has been in effect since 2021 in the IIG sector. By revising these prices, the organization hopes to foster a more inclusive digital environment in Bangladesh, allowing more individuals to benefit from internet connectivity.
