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Satellite technology can never fully replace submarine cables or broadband internet services, while Bangladesh’s reliance on international terrestrial cable (ITC) connectivity is creating risks to the country’s data sovereignty, said Mashiur Rahman, CEO of CDNet.
He made the remarks on Monday (August 31, 2026) at a workshop titled “The Need for New Submarine Cables to Protect Digital Sovereignty and Meet Future Bandwidth Demand” at Chhuti Resort in Gazipur.
Rahman said satellite connectivity could not substitute for submarine cables in internet backhaul and distribution, as internet service providers ultimately depend on submarine cable connections to distribute services.
He said Bangladesh currently relies on ITC connections for around 60% of its international connectivity, resulting in foreign-currency outflows and creating data-security risks. He stressed the need for new submarine cables to strengthen the country’s digital and data sovereignty.
High investment and consortium model
The workshop highlighted the huge investment required for submarine cable projects. An international submarine cable can cost $700 million to $1 billion, while a smaller cable may require around $200 million.
As such investments are difficult for a single company to undertake, around 95% of submarine cables worldwide are operated under consortium models involving multiple partners.
Such partnerships allow companies to share costs, secure landing rights in multiple countries, obtain regulatory approvals in strategically sensitive areas such as the Strait of Malacca and share maintenance expenses.
In Bangladesh, CDNet, Metaco and Summit have formed a private-sector consortium for this purpose.
Ageing cable creates need for new capacity
The workshop also noted that the submarine cable commissioned in 2002 reached the end of its approximately 20-year economic lifespan in 2025. As ageing fibre deteriorates, signal loss increases and repeaters fail more frequently, significantly raising maintenance and vessel-repair costs.
Rahman said a new submarine cable would diversify Bangladesh’s international bandwidth, encourage global data-centre investment in the country and could potentially reach break-even within five years.
He said increased capacity and competition could eventually help reduce internet prices.
The workshop was chaired by S. M. Masuduzzaman Robin, president of the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB). Faruk Hossain delivered the welcome address, while Metaco CEO Aminul Hakim attended the event and Metaco project lead Mahmud Shahed made the main presentation.
In his closing remarks, Robin said digital connectivity and sovereignty are key government priorities, adding that technical discussions of this nature would help Bangladesh meet future connectivity targets in line with growing international demand.