Summit Group, Bangladesh’s largest infrastructure provider, operates an extensive fiber-optic network spanning 47,000 to 55,000 kilometers (approximately 29,204 to 34,175 miles) nationwide, providing the backbone of the country’s internet infrastructure. In 2023, Summit expanded its telecommunications presence by acquiring 2,012 towers from mobile operator Banglalink for approximately $100 million. Under this arrangement, Banglalink will lease back use of these towers for at least 12 years, while Summit assumes responsibility for operation and maintenance. This transaction increased Summit’s tower count to over 6,500 nationwide.
Improving Internet Access in Bangladesh
Muhammed Aziz Khan, founder and chairman of Summit Group, sees digital infrastructure as essential for growing economic opportunity in Bangladesh.
“We need to have fiber optics and data availability so individuals can access the modern world of technology, so they can serve themselves,” he says. “This has happened in India quite substantially up to this point. We want people to be able to work in Bangladesh in a way that their work can be accomplished just with access to the internet.
“There are more than 1 million young people in Bangladesh who are unemployed,” he continues. “The civil unrest in Bangladesh is highly unlikely to not be there unless we provide more infrastructure for industry development.”
Summit Group’s Telecommunications Model
Rather than serving end consumers directly, Summit Group provides wholesale infrastructure to mobile operators and internet service providers. This infrastructure-focused approach is different from their power generation business where they produce electricity that’s directly purchased by utilities and delivered to end users.
The Banglalink tower acquisition represents a broader trend in the telecommunications industry where mobile operators separate their passive infrastructure (towers, power systems) from their active operations (radio equipment, customer services). A tower-sharing model can allow multiple operators to use the same physical infrastructure, reducing overall costs and environmental impact while improving network coverage.
Fiber-Optic Development
Summit Group’s investments in telecommunications extend beyond towers to include submarine fiber optic cables connecting Bangladesh to global internet infrastructure.
“We are laying fiber optic from Bangladesh to Singapore,” says Muhammed Aziz Khan.
This submarine cable project addresses a key constraint in Bangladesh’s digital development: international bandwidth capacity. Establishing direct fiber connections to Singapore — a major regional internet hub — can help reduce latency and increase bandwidth for Bangladesh’s internet users while improving network reliability through route diversity.
Summit Group’s fiber investment could also support the growth of data centers in Bangladesh, which are essential for hosting cloud services. The combination of towers and fiber benefits both mobile and fixed-line broadband services.
Economic Impact
Muhammed Aziz Khan explains that improved telecommunications infrastructure can contribute to Bangladesh’s digital economy in several ways. First, it enables the growth of industries such as mobile financial services, e-commerce, and ride-sharing platforms. Second, it facilitates remote work and outsourcing opportunities, allowing Bangladesh to participate in the global digital economy.
“They can serve European, American, Japanese and other needs,” Khan says about the potential for digital work.
Infrastructure development could also support digital inclusion in underserved areas. While Bangladesh has made progress in connectivity, rural areas still lag behind urban centers in internet access and quality.
The economic impact could extend to industrial competitiveness as well. Factories, export processing zones, and business parks increasingly require high-speed connectivity to participate in global supply chains and implement modern management systems.
Summit continues to expand its telecommunications footprint while exploring the rise of new technologies like artificial intelligence, which will drive demand for more extensive and capable infrastructure — areas where Summit is positioned to play a continuing role in Bangladesh’s digital transformation.
“I personally believe that as artificial intelligence and cloud computing and other technologies develop, they will require so much more electricity that we could see a shortage, as we are seeing in places like the U.S. and Europe where they’re building artificial intelligence capacities,” says Khan.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite its growth in telecommunications infrastructure, Summit faces several challenges in the sector. The company operates in a highly regulated industry where spectrum allocation, tower placement, and right-of-way for fiber installation require government approvals. These regulatory processes can delay infrastructure deployment.
The telecom sector’s technology cycle presents another challenge. While power plants typically operate for decades with minimal changes to core technology, telecommunications infrastructure requires frequent upgrades to keep pace with evolving standards. The transition from 4G to 5G, for example, demands not just more towers but also more fiber connections to those towers and higher-capacity backhaul networks.
