We’re pleased to welcome Bangladesh as the newest member of the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI). On Monday (July 24), the Access to Information (a2i) programme of the Prime Minister’s Office will sign a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with A4AI, marking the government’s commitment to reducing broadband prices and enabling affordable internet for all Bangladeshis.
While the price of internet in Bangladesh appears to be relatively low (1GB of mobile prepaid internet costs around 3.6% of GNI per capita), the cost to connect remains out of reach for many in the country — particularly for the 57% of the population living on less than US$3.10 a day. As a result, just about 40% of the country is online today and mobile broadband penetration remains at a low 14% .
By joining A4AI, Bangladesh has committed to using policy and regulatory reform to lower the cost of internet access to a “1 for 2” target (i.e., where 1GB of mobile data is priced at 2% or less of GNI per capita) — a price point that will enable millions more to afford access, and in doing, consider innovative policy solutions to increase access and use of ICTs. Over the next three years, A4AI and a2i will work together — and with a wide range of in-country stakeholders — to establish a national coalition focused on using policy to tackle the challenges preventing many more millions to adopt ICT in Bangladesh
We look forward to working with the Government of Bangladesh, as well as private and civil society sector stakeholders in the country, to further affordable internet access and achieve the goals of Digital Bangladesh.
To learn more about our new engagement, please see the A4AI-Bangladesh Coalition page.