Faster, cheaper internet for northern people
A regional internet exchange hub under Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh has been established in Rajshahi, aiming to enhance internet speed, reduce costs, and strengthen digital connectivity across the northern region.
The ISPAB-NIX initiative is a collaborative effort involving Internet Exchange Trust and Internet Society. It seeks to address longstanding connectivity gaps by enabling efficient local data exchange and reducing dependence on international bandwidth routes.
The newly established National Internet Exchange (NIX) is expected to significantly improve interconnectivity among local internet service providers. Beneficiaries include ISPs across all eight districts of the Rajshahi division, Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) operators, International Internet Gateway (IIG) providers, as well as government and private institutions.
By routing domestic internet traffic locally, the hub allows service providers to deliver faster, more stable, and cost-effective connectivity to end users. Industry stakeholders say this will also help conserve foreign currency by lowering reliance on expensive international links.
Plans are also underway to introduce cache services at the exchange point, enabling users to access high-demand content at reduced bandwidth costs.
Following similar deployments in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, and Mymensingh, the Rajshahi hub is expected to drive growth in sectors such as e-commerce, education, healthcare, and digital media, while fostering regional innovation and entrepreneurship.
