Mahmudul Hasan

Bangladesh’s internet use has expanded significantly over the past year, but access to computers remains largely stagnant, underscoring the country’s continued dependence on mobile phones for going online.

Over the years, nearly 3.5 lakh tech-savvy youths have been earning more than $1 billion annually for Bangladesh, according to unofficial estimates. But their reliance on routine digital work now faces a serious test from artificial intelligence (AI).

The GSMA, the global body representing mobile operators, has urged the Bangladesh government to cut spectrum renewal prices by 50-75 percent ahead of the November 2026 renewal of the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands.

A sharp rise in Bangla QR transactions since July has raised concerns among industry insiders, including mobile financial service providers, who suspect that a portion of the surge may be driven by fake or suspicious payments rather than genuine purchases.

For decades, telecom operators built their businesses around one basic product -- connectivity. They first sold voice calls, then gradually turned mobile data into a much larger source of revenue as smartphones and mobile internet transformed how people communicate, work and consume digital services.

The government plans to cut the minimum local ownership requirement for mobile operators to 10 percent from 15 percent, according to the latest draft of the Telecommunications Network and Licensing Policy.

Users can spend up to Tk 50,000 a year on smartphones, other devices and eligible services

With Bangladesh’s startup ecosystem facing its worst funding drought in more than a decade, the government and banks have launched several new initiatives to provide cash-strapped entrepreneurs with fresh sources of capital.