HSIA upgrades digital services with free passenger Wi-Fi

The government has introduced a free high-speed Wi-Fi service at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka, allowing up to 37,000 passengers to connect to the internet at the same time, marking a major step towards expanding digital services for air travellers.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam officially launched the service on Sunday afternoon at the airport, highlighting the initiative as part of the government’s broader plan to improve passenger experience and strengthen digital infrastructure in key public facilities.

Senior officials present at the inauguration included Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad.

After the launch, Minister Afroza Khanam said the project reflects the government’s commitment to providing fast and reliable internet access for citizens, in line with its election commitments. She also expressed optimism that the airport’s third terminal would be inaugurated soon, calling it a significant milestone for the aviation sector.

State Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat said the new system enables simultaneous connectivity for more than 37,000 users across the airport premises.

According to airport authorities, the Wi-Fi network spans around 94,000 square metres, covering Terminal-1, Terminal-2, the domestic terminal, VIP and VVIP lounges, and parking areas. The system is supported by 250 access points, extensive fibre-optic and Ethernet cabling of about 48 kilometres, and 37 network switches, providing a total bandwidth capacity of 40 Gbps.

Each access point can serve up to 150 users at once, ensuring stable and widespread connectivity across terminals. Officials noted that trial operations began on 26 April, during which nearly 20,000 passengers used the service, consuming around 2.3 terabytes of data.

Authorities said the initiative is expected to significantly improve digital access, communication, and online service availability for both domestic and international travellers passing through HSIA.