The online streaming services in Bangladesh have seen a growth of 11 percent in the last two years, a survey revealed.

The streaming services have achieved massive popularity due to the easy accessibility of internet content.

Amongst the most subscribed services are Netflix, Hoichoi, Z-Five, and iFlix. Local streaming services such as Grameenphone’s Bioscope, Robi’s Robi TV+, Banglalink’s Vibe, Banglaflix have also carved a niche amongst the audience.

Surveys conducted every two years by international media research agency Kantar showed that subscribers for these services have doubled over the last two years.

According to Internet Service Providers Association Bangladesh (ISPAB) President Aminul Hoque Hakim these streaming services use up to 40 percent of the country’s 1400 Gbps bandwidth.

“Most of the content viewed online are foreign. We need to create more local content to attract audiences,” he told Bangla Tribune.

He added that if over the top (OTP) app services and videos-on-demand can be created online, the use of international bandwidth will go down.

Data analysis of an internet service provider revealed that the organisation uses 14 Gbps of bandwidth every month. Amongst that, 5 Gbps is used for Facebook, 7 Gbps for YouTube, 1 Gbps for Netflix and 700-800 Gbps for Akamai.

Malaysia based iFlix Country Head Ashiqur Rahman told Bangla Tribune that the streaming service has an audience of nearly 1.5 million.

“There are 22 countries where iFlix operates. There is ample Bangla content for viewers,” he said before adding that the view is almost 20 million minutes every month.

Rahman said that although the iFlix has partnered up with a mobile operator in the country, it’s open for everyone.

Grameenphone’s Bioscope has 6 million viewers every month. Sources at Robi said that over 150 apps are downloaded from their network every day. In addition to that Banglalink’s music platform Vibe and video platform Banglaflix, Airtel’s Splash has also attracted viewers with diversified content.