The government has directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to investigate the legality of operations by three private submarine cable companies—Summit Communications Limited, Metacore Subcom Limited, and CdNet Communications—and their jointly formed consortium, Bangladesh Private Cable System. The directive, issued by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, seeks a detailed report on whether the consortium was formed with prior approval and if it complies with licensing and government guidelines.

The three companies received individual submarine cable licenses in September 2022 to break the state monopoly in the sector. They later formed a consortium to establish a 1,300-kilometer submarine cable link with Singapore to meet growing internet demand. However, officials have raised concerns that the consortium may have violated licensing rules and posed digital security risks.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC’s managing director criticized the consortium, alleging non-compliance with fiber installation requirements and potential security risks due to the planned cable’s proximity to Myanmar’s waters. The government indicated that licenses could be revoked if violations are confirmed.