Internet users dropped slightly in November

Growth of internet users in Bangladesh witnessed a slight downtrend in November, but telecom regulator termed it as usual.

In November, the country registered a 7.17 lakh internet users drop, according to the latest statistics of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

BTRC Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood said the drop of internet users is not unusual and it has no linkage with the temporary restriction on the social media and few messaging and calling apps.

"The number of internet users sometimes could be fluctuated due to using pattern of the customers but it would be normal in next month," he added.

However, the ICT experts opined that temporary restriction of social media and few apps were behind the negative growth of internet users. Cellular phone operators also echoed the same and said that they witnessed up to 30 percent bandwidth drop during the restriction on the site and apps.

Bangladesh imposed temporary restriction on few social media including facebook as well as few calling and messaging apps like viber, whatsapp on November 18 on security ground. Later, on December 10, it unblocked the facebook and later other mobile apps.

The BTRC report showed that the number of internet users stood at 5.39 crore in November while it was 5.46 crore in October.

In November, the number of mobile internet users was 5.14 crore while WiMAX users 1.54 lakh and internet users via ISP and PSTN was 23 lakh.

In October, the number of mobile internet users was 5.23 crore while WiMAX users 1.59 lakh and internet users via ISP and PSTN was 21 lakh.