The interim government has granted Starlink, a US-based Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) service provider, the licence to provide satellite internet services in Bangladesh.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus approved the licence on Monday, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.
Starlink marks a new chapter for internet services in Bangladesh, making it the second country in South Asia, after Sri Lanka, to offer global satellite internet services.
Earlier, the chief adviser had invited top US businessman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SpaceX Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh and launch the Starlink satellite service in the country.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on 25 March issued guidelines for NGSO Satellite Services Operators in Bangladesh.
Under these guidelines, Starlink submitted an application to the BTRC with the required documents and applicable fees to obtain the NGSO Satellite Services Operator Licence.
Following the application, the BTRC, in principle, decided to issue the licence.
Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, said there are significant challenges in delivering continuous, quality internet services in remote areas such as the haor regions, hilly terrains, and particularly in disaster-prone coastal areas.
“With the growing demand to quickly provide high-quality internet services to areas where fibre optic connections have not yet reached, Starlink will play a key role in meeting this need,” the statement quoted Taiyeb as saying.
One of Starlink’s primary advantages is uninterrupted high-speed internet, which will remain operational even during power outages — unlike traditional ISPs, where internet service is often disrupted during load shedding.
In cases where power outages last for extended periods and mobile tower backup batteries are depleted, mobile internet services are also impacted. However, with Starlink, such issues are expected to be avoided.
Another problem that Starlink aims to resolve is the limited reach of fibre networks in Bangladesh. A significant portion of the existing fibre network in the country is not telecom-grade.
Currently, at least 65 per cent of Bangladesh’s telecommunications towers remain outside the reach of fibre connectivity, relying instead on microwave technology, which has limited capacity.
Additionally, challenges persist with the coverage and capacity of the mobile network, including issues with highway mobility coverage.
Starlink aims to address these shortcomings, providing a robust solution to the country’s connectivity challenges.