Following a five-day nationwide internet blackout and broadband services restored on Tuesday, international internet gateway operators resumed Google's cache server on Thursday night -- improving internet speeds for users.
However, cache servers for short-form video hosting service TikTok and Meta-owned Facebook and WhatsApp remained offline, according to the telecom regulator.
Telecom operators and transmission management companies are scheduled to meet with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Saturday to discuss restoring mobile internet services, which were still unavailable on Friday.
After assessing transmission line repairs, server and data centre connectivity, the BTRC will decide on resuming mobile internet services, likely by Monday, according to the Post and Telecommunications Ministry.
However, Facebook, TikTok and some other websites could face extended shutdowns even after mobile internet is restored.
The social media platforms currently do not comply with the country's laws, disrespect religious values, threaten economic security and disrupt public order, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information and Communications Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said earlier.
He said the companies are also violating their own policy guidelines and privacy settings. The government will summon representatives from Facebook and TikTok.
Internet services -- both fixed-line broadband and mobile internet -- were suspended on 18 July during the quota reform movement.
On Tuesday night last week, broadband internet was restored on a trial basis. Net service resumption prioritised diplomatic zones, media, banks and financial institutions, the power sector, freelancers, tech industries and export-oriented sectors.
On the next day, net services for residential areas began to normalise. But the speed was painfully slow.
Now, with Google servers activated, service quality will improve, said Emdadul Haque, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB).
He said the 3,000 Gbps bandwidth burden for 11 million mobile subscribers is now also affecting the 350 Gbps broadband internet bandwidth, slowing speeds due to insufficient broadband capacity.
According to industry insiders, Meta servers, hosting Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger, are located across Bangladesh, alongside Bison servers for TikTok, Akamai for Free Fire and PubG, and Cloudflare.
These local cache servers offer instant user access and faster browsing by retrieving data from main servers.
ISPAB President Mr Haque said the government would reconsider reopening social media platforms if they commit to responsible behaviour and comply with the country's regulations.
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