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Published : 29 Apr 2025, 12:17 AM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has green-lighted the licence of the US-based non-geostationary orbit satellite service provider, Starlink, to operate in Bangladesh.
According to a media statement issued from the Chief Advisor’s Office, the approval was granted on Monday.
According to the statement, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued the licensing guidelines titled "Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Services Operators in Bangladesh" on Mar 25.
Under these guidelines, Starlink Services Bangladesh applied to the BTRC for an NGSO satellite services operator licence, and submitted the required fees and documents.
On Apr 21, a policy decision was made in the 294th Commission Meeting to issue the licence to the company.
The media statement highlighted that Starlink marks a new addition to Bangladesh’s internet services. Bangladesh has become the second country in South Asia to offer Starlink’s services, the first being Sri Lanka.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Yunus’s special aide on post, telecommunications, and information technology, said: "During the July Uprising, the repeated internet shutdowns imposed by Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian government led to a public demand for bringing Starlink to Bangladesh."
He added that the service reflects the chief advisor’s intention to showcase Bangladesh as an investment-friendly country, by providing uninterrupted, high-quality internet services to remote and disaster-prone coastal areas, as well as in Haor regions and the hill tracts.
Faiz explained, "In areas where fibre-optic networks have not reached yet, there is an increasing demand for high-quality internet. In response to that demand, the chief advisor personally contacted Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, urging him to initiate Starlink’s operations in Bangladesh within 90 days."
He further noted that the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), BTRC, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and the Chief Advisor’s Office are working closely together to fulfil that goal.
Faiz highlighted that one of Starlink’s key services is continuous high-speed internet, which ensures that internet access will not be interrupted during power cuts and load shedding, unlike traditional Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Sometimes, during longer power cuts, mobile tower battery backups deplete, disrupting mobile internet services. Starlink is not affected by these issues.
He continued, "The expansion of fibre-optic networks in Bangladesh is limited, and a significant portion of the existing fibre networks is not telecom-grade. At least 65 percent of the country’s telecom towers are still outside the fibre network, relying on microwave technology with very limited capacity.”
“Additionally, there are certain challenges with the coverage and capacity of our mobile network, including issues with highway mobility coverage. Starlink will address these problems."
Faiz believes that Starlink will create a more competitive mobile and broadband internet market in Bangladesh, and traditional voice call and data bundle-based internet services will transform into digital service-centred models.
"The introduction of Starlink’s services will initiate deregulation within the communications industry, increasing competition and ensuring uninterrupted, high-quality, and high-speed internet access, whether in urban or rural areas," he said.
