Mobile, internet subscribers dip for 3rd straight month amid SIM verification drive

Infographics: TBS

Bangladesh's mobile and internet user base shrank in September for the third consecutive month since July, driven by ongoing SIM verification and deactivation drives ahead of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) rollout.

According to the latest data from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the total number of mobile subscribers stood at 187.97 million in September, down from 188.57 million in August and 188.87 million in July.

The monthly average decline was 0.24%, or around 450,000 users, indicating market saturation and subscriber consolidation after years of double-digit growth.

Operator-wise performance

Among the four mobile network operators, Grameenphone recorded the largest decline, losing 0.62 million subscribers in September to settle at 85.85 million, down from 86.47 million in August.

This marks GP's third consecutive monthly drop, with a cumulative loss of nearly 0.8 million users since July.

Industry insiders attribute the decline to SIM reverification drives, competitive pricing pressures and the phasing-out of inactive or duplicate connections.

Robi Axiata, meanwhile, defied the downward trend, gaining 0.11 million subscribers to reach 57.52 million in September.

Robi's subscriber base has remained relatively stable throughout 2025, supported by diversified data bundles and aggressive promotions.

Banglalink, on the other hand, has been losing ground consistently since February. The operator registered 37.93 million subscribers in September after a monthly decline of 0.12 million.

State-owned Teletalk managed a modest gain of 0.03 million users, bringing its total to 6.67 million. The growth, though limited, reflects the gradual impact of government efforts to enhance digital access in remote and marginalised areas.

Robi Axiata PLC said its growth is driven by sustainable, value-based acquisition, unlike operators that rely on lower-priced connections.

"We are prioritising long-term customer engagement and service experience over short-term volume. In addition, the steady expansion of our network with new site deployments has enhanced coverage and service quality across key areas. These factors combined are contributing to our continued subscriber growth and strengthening customer trust in our network," said Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer at Robi Axiata PLC.

Overall market movement

From January to September 2025, Bangladesh's total mobile subscriber base increased by 1.38 million, rising from 186.59 million to 187.97 million, representing 0.74% year-to-date growth.

However, growth peaked in July before reversing in mid-year.

Between July and September alone, the market lost 0.9 million users, signalling saturation and a shift towards quality over quantity in SIM ownership.

Quarterly analysis

In Q1 (January–March), the industry lost around 0.37 million subscribers, with total users falling from 186.59 million in January to 186.22 million in March. Only Grameenphone posted growth, while Banglalink and Robi declined.

Q2 (April–June) reversed the earlier decline, with total subscribers climbing from 186.64 million in April to 188.45 million in June, adding 1.81 million users — the strongest quarterly rise of the year.

However, in Q3 (July–September), the market shifted into decline, losing 0.9 million users. Most operators posted consistent drops, while Robi recorded a slight recovery in September after an earlier dip in August.

The quarterly trend shows how the telecom industry shifted from expansion in the first half of 2025 to contraction in the second half, largely driven by SIM clean-up operations.

Yasir Azman, chief executive officer of Grameenphone Ltd, said, "We are seeing a mix of short-term optimism and underlying challenges. With the national election approaching, Bangladesh's economy is expected to experience a short-term boost as activity picks up across the market. We expect to capture renewed customer demand and reinforce our critical role in national connectivity."

Market share snapshot

As of September 2025, Grameenphone remained the country's largest mobile operator with a 45.7% share of total subscribers despite recent user losses.

Robi Axiata held the second position with 30.6%, reflecting steady performance and resilience amid market challenges.

Banglalink accounted for 20.2% of total connections, as the operator continued to face pressure from subscriber churn and competitive pricing from rivals.

State-run Teletalk maintained a modest but gradually improving 3.5% share, supported by government-led connectivity expansion initiatives under national digital inclusion programmes.

Grameenphone remains the dominant player but continues to cede share to Robi and Teletalk.

Internet subscriptions also slumped

The BTRC report shows that total internet subscriptions fell to 134.16 million in September from 135.33 million in August, marking a decline of 1.17 million users, or 0.86% month-on-month.

The downturn was driven entirely by a drop in mobile internet connections, which fell from 120.87 million to 119.70 million, while broadband (ISP and PSTN) subscriptions remained stable at 14.46 million.

Despite the recent slowdown, total internet users increased by 4.1 million in the first nine months of 2025, reflecting 3.1% year-to-date growth.

Mobile-to-internet connection ratio

With 187.97 million mobile users and 134.16 million internet connections, around 71% of mobile SIMs are now linked to internet usage – a significant rise compared to previous years.

Mobile internet accounts for about 89% of all online connections, while broadband continues to show stability, capturing 10.8% of total internet users.

The steady broadband base highlights consistent usage among urban households, businesses and educational institutions.

NEIR is likely to reshape the market

With the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system scheduled for launch on 16 December, the telecom industry anticipates short-term subscriber losses as unregistered and illegal handsets are barred from network access.

Market insiders say NEIR is expected to deliver long-term benefits by enhancing network security, curbing SIM misuse and improving the accuracy of subscriber data.

Despite the ongoing contraction, Bangladesh remains one of South Asia's most connected nations, with more than 187 million mobile subscribers and 134 million internet users.

Industry officials say that with NEIR in place, the days of explosive subscriber growth appear to be over, and the sector is set to evolve toward sustainable digital transformation, service quality and innovation-driven growth.