Banglalink’s new Starlink satellite service has been making headlines, promising to keep people connected even where conventional mobile networks cannot reach. The service uses a technology called Direct-to-Cell (D2C), which allows compatible 4G smartphones to connect directly to Starlink satellites without relying on conventional mobile networks.
But what does that actually mean for an ordinary mobile phone user? Can you make a call, send a message or use the internet? Will your existing phone work? How much will it cost, and what can users expect as the service develops?
In response to these questions, Banglalink told TIMES of Bangladesh that the service is intended particularly for fisherfolk, seafarers, travellers and communities in remote and coastal areas where mobile signals are often unavailable. It could also help people stay connected during natural disasters and prolonged power outages. The company also said Bangladesh is the first country in South Asia to receive the service.
Therefore, the newly launched service, in short, is a backup for basic messaging, with limited voice calls inside some apps. It is not another mobile network roaming in the sky.
How D2C Works
A regular mobile network sends and receives signals between our phones and nearby mobile towers.
With D2C, this two-way connection is established with a satellite hundreds of kilometres above us. The satellites communicate directly with our phones, both sending and receiving signals.
That distance comes at a cost. The signal reaching our phones is weak because a phone has only a small antenna. Starlink’s home internet is faster because it uses a large dish.
With Starlink D2C, a single satellite also covers a very large area, and everyone in that area shares the same connection.
This is why, according to Banglalink’s FAQ section, the service is designed for essential tasks. It is not the same as Starlink’s home broadband service and does not provide high-speed broadband or 4G/5G internet.
What you can and cannot do with it
Banglalink-Starlink D2C currently offers some basic services. Every customer gets five free satellite SMS messages a month. After that, the usual pay-as-you-go (PayGo) rate applies. However, the MyBL app is required to send an SMS, while receiving messages may not work consistently at this early stage.
According to Banglalink’s tests so far, WhatsApp, IMO, Viber and Signal support text messaging, voice calls and file transfers. Call quality may vary depending on satellite conditions, and some calls may not connect. Messenger supports text messaging, but messages may be delayed and voice calls may be inconsistent. iMessage also works.
However, users cannot dial a number directly from the phone’s keypad, even if they have sufficient balance or call minutes. Banglalink says it plans to introduce this feature later.
This means calls to 999 are not possible. During an emergency, Banglalink advises users to send an SMS or make an app-based call to someone who can contact emergency services on their behalf.
Video calls, streaming, games, large downloads and app updates are unavailable to protect the shared satellite bandwidth. They work again on the regular mobile network.
Google Maps and Apple Maps work but may load slowly. Gmail and iOS Weather are supported, while AccuWeather is still being tested.
Banglalink has not published connection speed or latency data. Asked about realistic speeds, the company said only that SMS and light data usage are supported on certain apps, including IMO, WhatsApp and Google Maps.
According to the FAQ, AI chatbots such as Gemini and ChatGPT work in text-only mode. Photos and files take longer to send, but no specific duration was given.
Phone compatibility and costs
According to Banglalink’s FAQ, the service requires a compatible 4G smartphone and SIM. Feature phones and 2G- or 3G-only handsets cannot connect. But Banglalink has not published a list of supported models. Users must also enable data roaming, internet roaming and location services.
Banglalink has not disclosed a separate price or usage limit. Asked whether the cost is included in bundle prices or absorbed by the company, the operator said Starlink is included in its existing bundles.
For the first month, the service comes at no extra cost with any active Banglalink internet or mixed bundle pack. The FAQ states that “internet on STARLINK will run on your active pack or bundle”. Connecting is free and requires no additional equipment.
Pricing beyond the first month remains undisclosed. Banglalink says it will review the service based on customer response after the free month.
Coverage, testing and data security
Within Banglalink’s coverage area, phones stay on the regular mobile network, while D2C operates only within Bangladesh.
Banglalink lists coastal areas, islands, river routes, the hills of Sylhet and Bandarban, chars, haors, forests and isolated stretches of highway among its coverage areas, including deep-sea areas within Bangladesh’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
However, its FAQ warns that “indoors, in basements, in narrow hill valleys or under a tin roof, the signal may be weak, or you may get no signal at all.” Signals may also fluctuate as satellites move, and the service is unavailable near border areas.
Banglalink said it conducted multiple tests with different stakeholders before launch but did not disclose the results or clarify whether they covered real-life cyclone, flood or sea conditions.
Starlink is developed and operated by US-based aerospace manufacturer SpaceX. Asked about user data routing, storage, lawful interception and national-interest safeguards, Banglalink gave a single response: “We have abided by all requirements as per the new license and the laws of the land.”
It provided no further details, leaving another question unanswered – would the service remain available during an internet shutdown like the one in July 2024?
Banglalink’s D2C service with Starlink seems promising for people in remote, coastal and disaster-prone areas, where a short message or access to a map can matter greatly during an emergency.
Still in its early stages, the service could become more useful for people stranded beyond mobile network coverage if more features are added.
