Bangladesh in talks with Singapore to join 4th submarine cable: Taiyeb
The third submarine cable, with a capacity of 17,000 Gbps, is expected to go into commercial operation by mid or late 2026, he says
Bangladesh is in discussions with Singapore to join the fourth submarine cable network, Chief Adviser's Special Assistant on Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said today (12 October).
"We have expressed our interest to the Singapore government regarding the establishment of the fourth submarine cable, and they have assured us of their cooperation," he told journalists at an event held at the ICT Division conference room in Agargaon, Dhaka.
He said the matter has already been communicated to the Singapore embassy and relevant ministries.
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Taiyeb also informed that the third submarine cable, with a capacity of 17,000 Gbps, is expected to go into commercial operation by mid or late 2026.
"We have already finalised the agreement for Bangladesh's part in this third cable," he added.
Speaking about the ongoing challenges, Taiyeb noted that due to the Houthi insurgency, permission to lay cables through certain sea routes has been restricted.
"For the first time, a portion of the submarine cable will be laid as a terrestrial cable, passing over Saudi Arabia's desert before reaching the Red Sea," he explained.
The third submarine cable project, initiated in 2021, aims to connect Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar to Singapore on one end and France on the other. Through the core cable, Bangladesh can gain direct data connectivity with Singapore, India, Djibouti, and France.
The project, involving an investment of Tk693 crore, was originally scheduled for completion by June 2024, but the deadline was extended until June this year due to delays in implementation.
