Big companies are attacking the networks of small operators: Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb

The government has come to learn about an organized effort to put small and regional internet service providers out of business, said Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

He said that some big companies are allegedly launching regular cyber attacks on small operators' networks at the district and upazila levels to capture the market.

Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb issued a statement in this regard on Friday.

He said that observations have shown that some big internet providers or groups are deliberately attacking the networks of small operators. This has forced the networks to be shut down for hours. In some cases, the scale of the attack reaches 500 to 700 gigabytes, which is almost impossible for small companies to handle. Due to this, small companies are losing customers; big companies are unfairly dominating the market.

He further said that some national-level internet providers are trying to take over small companies by intimidating them by misinterpreting the new Telecommunication Network and Authorization Policy-2025. The government is considering this process as a crime.

The new Telecommunication Authorization Policy clearly states that small internet companies will be able to operate in the entire district in addition to their current area. We have given them the opportunity to expand their scope of work. There is a plan to increase the national-level fee for renewal of authorization slightly and rationally adjust it in the district and upazila.

Stating that the ministry and BTRC have started a campaign against cyber criminals with the help of law enforcement agencies, Faiz Ahmed said that visible changes will be seen in this sector soon. The ministry is fully committed to preventing any attempt by large companies to control the syndicate or market.

The statement said that the ministry will prevent any attempt to remove small internet providers from the market. At the same time, it will take strict measures against cyber attackers and develop a fair and inclusive internet system. Because, in Digital Bangladesh, internet access is not a luxury; it is a civil right. The country's digital economy will grow sustainably only if small entrepreneurs survive.

Sources say that currently, about 2,000 internet companies are operating at the district and upazila levels. Most of them are providing services locally to 500 to 5,000 customers. At least 34 companies have been the victims of large-scale cyber attacks in the last few months.

BTRC sources say that some companies have been forced to shut down their networks for 12 to 24 hours due to these attacks. As a result, they have faced financial losses.