Dhaka eSIM
In Dhaka you connect to Grameenphone or Robi, whichever is performing better where you are standing. The typical speed across the country is 28 Mbps. Your data starts working the moment you land, before you reach the immigration hall.
- Networks
- Grameenphone and Robi
- Typical speed in Bangladesh
- 28 Mbps typical, 6 Mbps at busy times
- 5G
- 4G only
- Throttle
- None on metered plans
- Tethering
- Allowed on every plan
Plans that cover Dhaka
| Data | Validity | Price per GB | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | Never expires | $6.89 | $6.89 | |
| 3 GB | Never expires | $3.63 | $10.89 | |
| 5 GBMost travellers | Never expires | $2.98 | $14.89 | |
| 10 GB | Never expires | $2.29 | $22.89 | |
| 20 GB | Never expires | $1.84 | $36.89 |
How Bangladesh compares across Asia
- Regional typical speed
- 42.95 Mbps
- Upstream networks
- 2, Grameenphone, Robi
- 5G
- 4G only
- Next fastest nearby
- Kyrgyzstan, 33 Mbps
- Next slowest nearby
- Sri Lanka, 27 Mbps
- Cities with their own page
- 1: Dhaka
Landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC)
- Airport
- DAC / VGHS
- Distance
- 17 km from the centre of Dhaka
- Wifi on arrival
- Free wifi in the terminalFree wifi in both the Arrival and Departure terminals via several providers (BTCL, ADN Telecom, BRAC Net, Amara, Beximco); most require an OTP sent by SMS after visiting the wifi help desk, while BTCL also offers an open network.
- SIM on arrival
- SIM counters or vending in the terminalSIM company booths sit in front of customs green channel 01 in the Arrival Concourse Hall, past the customs check.
Getting into Dhaka
- Eight-lane Airport Road into central Dhaka (DAC), about 13 minutes
- Airport Railway Station, immediately outside the terminal (DAC)
Underground and on the metro
Dhaka Metro Rail (MRT Line 6) runs 1 lines. It opened in 2022. The operator does not publish whether the tunnels carry a mobile signal, so we do not claim either way.
Worth knowing about Dhaka
- Most of the airport's free wifi providers authenticate with a one-time password sent by SMS, collected at the wifi help desk, so a traveller with no working number cannot use them; BTCL also runs an open network that needs no password.
- SIM booths are located after the customs green channel in the Arrival Concourse Hall, so they cannot be reached until customs is cleared.
- Dhaka's only operating metro line, MRT Line 6, opened on 29 December 2022 and runs on elevated track; it does not serve the airport. The separate MRT Line 1 airport route is still under construction.
- The airport keeps ten free telephone booths in the arrival concourse hall for passengers with no working phone service.
- The airport is in Kurmitola in the north of the city, about 17 km from the Dhaka city centre.
- The airport runs a free air-conditioned shuttle bus from the terminal to Jashimuddin mor, the Airport Railway Station and Kawla, built for travellers with heavy luggage. It carries free wifi and has boarding help for elderly and disabled passengers.
- MRT Line 6 opened between Uttara North and Agargaon on 29 December 2022 and was extended to Motijheel on 5 November 2023. It is Bangladesh's first elevated metro and runs above the traffic for its whole length.
- A single-journey metro ticket can be bought ahead of time but is only valid until midnight on the day of purchase, and it may not be taken out of the station. The rechargeable MRT Pass costs 500 taka upfront at any station's excess fare counter and cuts fares by 10 percent.
- Eating and drinking are banned on Dhaka metro trains, though packaged food and bottled drinks may be carried in a bag. Anything lost or stolen should be reported to the station controller or the MRT police control room on the concourse level.
- The 11.5 km airport to Farmgate section of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway opened in September 2023, cutting the drive to roughly 12 to 13 minutes. Queues often build at the Farmgate exit, and cars paid a Tk 80 toll when it opened.
- The arrival concourse has authorised bank and money exchange booths, car rental counters and hotel booking desks, so a room and a ride can be arranged before leaving the terminal.
- Free help desks for international passengers operate in both the arrival and departure areas at Hazrat Shahjalal, luggage trolleys cost nothing, and free drinking water is provided in the terminal.