Dhaka, Friday, Apr 24, 2026
The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has expressed concern over certain clauses in the new telecom policy, warning that they could put small and medium ISPs at risk.Congratulating the government on the overall policy update, ISPAB said five specific clauses should be revised to protect the interests of the industry.Under clause 7.4.5, nationwide ISPs and divisional ISPs may operate as Fixed Telecom Service Providers (FTSP), while district and sub-district ISPs can only function as district-level ISPs.ISPAB argued that many sub-district ISPs have been operating since 2009, gaining two decades of experience in providing last-mile service and expanding their business.“They should be allowed to join the mainstream, and divisional ISPs should have the choice to upgrade to FTSP without being forced into nationwide coverage,” ISPAB said.Clause 7.4.7 restricts district-level FTSPs to providing only internet and data services. ISPA-B highlighted that by 2025, internet users demand a wide range of ...
