The number of mobile network subscribers in Bangladesh rose for three consecutive months to reach an all-time high in April while internet usage slipped that same month.

The monthly internet usage of mobile subscribers has more than doubled ever since the coronavirus pandemic began as more people are being pushed online for work and entertainment purposes.

Smartphone penetration in Bangladesh is fast approaching 50 per cent as the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies to work, study and find entertainment using smart devices.

The ICT Division and the World Bank will work jointly to build ICT infrastructure in Bangladesh to take the economic development to the next stage, said Junaid Kamal Ahmad, a vice president of the World Bank.

The government’s a2i programme is set to become a full-fledged agency, entering the software and digital innovations industry as a government-subsidised player, but creating uncertainty for local tech companies.

The government will introduce a platform to help the global investors virtually operate their business in Bangladesh, said Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT.

The number of internet users in Bangladesh rose in March thanks to increased usage of both mobile data and broadband services for educational, entertainment and professional purposes amid the improving Covid-19 situation.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the ICT Division of the Government of Bangladesh recently reached an agreement to launch a cybersecurity campaign for the youth and children in selected Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Telecom operators yesterday rolled out a much-hyped “unlimited” and “without expiry” internet data packs, which apparently will come to little benefit to users.

Telecom operator Banglalink yesterday signed an agreement with 17 banks in the country to secure a five-year syndicated term loan of Tk 1,200 crore.

Mobile users in Bangladesh are set to avail data without expiry date and monthly limitless data, which will allow them to use internet to work, communicate, study, and find entertainment to their heart’s content.

Xiaomi Bangladesh has recently launched two new laptop series’ for the first time in the country. Xiaomi has brought the Mi NoteBook series and the RedmiBook series laptops to the local market.

The Ministry of Land’s digital land development tax system has been selected as one of the champion projects of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2022 contest.

The barrier to launching eSIM services has been finally removed as the National Board of Revenue (NRB) has set the value-added tax for the sale of digital subscriber identity modules by the mobile phone operators in Bangladesh.

A Chinese company is set to implement a Tk 3,975 crore digital connectivity project that will equip Bangladesh with the latest ICT infrastructure, digitise government services and increase ICT usage at the field level.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited (BTCL) yesterday launched its prepaid services that enable customers to avail telephone and internet services without prior deposits.

A crucial auction for spectrum bands that can support both fourth-generation (4G) and 5G technologies is set to take place in Dhaka today as the government looks to alleviate the sufferings of users stemming from the slower mobile internet speed.

Meta, formerly known as the Facebook company, yesterday launched its global #SheMeansBusiness programme in Bangladesh to provide women entrepreneurs with the skills, connections and technology required to build and grow their businesses online.

Oryx Bio-Tech Limited was struggling for quite some time to find a suitable plot near Dhaka for building a large manufacturing plant -- the first-ever plasma fractionation plant in Bangladesh.

Grameenphone aims to realise the full potential of the fourth-generation (4G) technology as the super-fast mobile telephony can support customers in their digitalisation journey, said Jorgen C Arentz Rostrup, chairman of the largest mobile phone operator in Bangladesh.