The Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCPLC), a state-owned and publicly listed enterprise under the Posts and Telecommunications Division, has clarified that there is no shortage of international bandwidth supply in the country.
In a statement issued by the posts and telecom ministry today, the company said it currently operates two "trusted submarine cable systems" — SEA-ME-WE-4 and SEA-ME-WE-5 — with a combined capacity of about 7,200 Gbps.
Of this, 4,200 Gbps is already in use domestically, while an additional 3,000 Gbps remains available for allocation.
The statement added that this capacity can be further expanded based on demand through technological upgrades.
To meet future demand, BSCPLC is implementing the third "trusted cable" project, SEA-ME-WE-6, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2026.
Once launched, the company will provide around 30,000 Gbps (30 Tbps) of bandwidth capacity through connections from Cox's Bazar to Singapore, Mumbai, and France.
"BSCPLC is fully prepared to meet both current and future international bandwidth demands. There is no shortage at present or in the foreseeable future," the statement said.
It also warned against attempts by "vested quarters" to introduce "untrusted submarine cable systems," which, it said, could undermine the country's cybersecurity and technological stability.
The statement claimed that countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia have expressed concerns over such "untrusted connections."
However, there have been no public statements from these countries regarding any submarine cable linked to Bangladesh, and The Daily Star could not independently verify the ministry's claim.
BSCPLC urged all operators and service providers to continue sourcing bandwidth from the trusted SEA-ME-WE-4 and SEA-ME-WE-5 systems to ensure secure and reliable connectivity for Bangladesh's digital advancement, the statement added.
Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/no-shortage-international-bandwidth-supply-bscplc-4013111
