Mainul Hossain Pinnu:

Bangladesh is lagging significantly behind its regional peers in terms of internet speed and usage. Slow and unreliable internet has become a major obstacle to digital transformation, investment and economic growth, according to the World Bank.

The organisation made the observation in its Atlas of Global Development 2026, published on Sunday.

According to the report, Bangladesh ranked 91st among 103 countries in mobile internet speed and 93rd among 141 countries in fixed broadband speed, based on the Speedtest Global Index for February 2026.

The report said the average mobile internet speed in Bangladesh was 43 megabits per second (Mbps). In Vietnam, another lower-middle-income economy, the average speed was 188 Mbps.

Bangladesh’s average fixed broadband speed was 66 Mbps. Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand were significantly ahead in this regard.

Network Coverage but Half the Population Offline

The World Bank said that although 4G mobile network coverage extends across the entire population, internet usage remains limited.

In 2024, only 53 percent of the country’s population used the internet. This means that nearly half of the population remained offline despite having network coverage.

However, according to data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the internet usage rate has increased to 58.6 percent, while mobile phone ownership has reached 89.5 percent.

According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the country had 189.83 million mobile subscribers and 135.94 million internet users as of June 2026.

The World Bank said the gap between network coverage and internet usage is partly due to the high cost of smartphones, expensive data packages and limited digital literacy.

The organisation also noted that infrastructure alone cannot ensure digital inclusion.

Impact on the Economy

The report said weak internet connectivity is hindering the expansion of digital financial services and efforts to reduce dependence on cash transactions.

Slow and unreliable internet can disrupt online banking, mobile financial services and QR-code-based payments.

The World Bank said weak internet infrastructure could constrain productivity, investment, exports, innovation and employment. It could also limit access to digital education, healthcare and government services.

The report also highlighted rural and gender-based disparities.

In rural areas, weak connectivity continues to limit access to agricultural information, digital payments and government services.

Globally, nearly 280 million more men than women used the internet in 2025, according to the report.

The World Bank said that over the past two decades, global internet usage has increased from 16 percent to more than 70 percent.

However, expanding connectivity alone is not enough. The organisation said strong competition, digital skills and supportive institutions are also necessary to ensure inclusive economic growth.

/SA/