Bangladesh is looking to boost its global internet connectivity by joining a fourth submarine cable network and has started talks with Singapore to get on board.

The news came from Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, a top official in the Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT sector, during an event in Agargaon on Sunday (October 12).

"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," Taiyeb told attendees. He confirmed that the government has already reached out to the Singaporean embassy and other relevant ministries.

Meanwhile, the country's third submarine cable, boasting a hefty capacity of 17,000 Gbps, is expected to be up and running by the middle or end of 2026.

However, the project has hit some snags. Taiyeb explained that the Houthi insurgency has made it impossible to lay cable through certain sea routes. This has led to a unique solution.

"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 said.

The Tk693 crore project will connect Cox's Bazar to Singapore and France, with direct links to India and Djibouti. After some delays pushed its original June 2024 deadline, the project is now expected to be completed by June 2025.

BOB Post