United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday congratulated all involved as Starlink officially started its operations in Bangladesh, says his Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. On April 28, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus officially approved the license for Starlink, the US-based satellite internet provider, to begin operations in Bangladesh, marking a significant step towards improving connectivity, especially in remote and underserved areas. On April 7, Starlink applied to the BTRC for a licence to operate in the country under the regulatory framework titled ‘Guidelines for Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Services Operators in Bangladesh’. On March 25, Prof Yunus directed the relevant authorities to ensure the commercial launch of Starlink’s satellite broadband internet service in Bangladesh within 90 days. In accordance with this guideline, Starlink submitted a formal application along with the applicable fees and required documents. A decision to issue the license was taken in principle during a meeting of the commission on April 21. Starlink becomes a new addition to Bangladesh’s internet landscape, marking the country as the second in South Asia—after Sri Lanka—to host services from the global satellite internet provider. Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser said, “With this, Sir’s (CA's) expectation of launching within 90 days has been fulfilled." He said although expensive, this creates a sustainable alternative for premium customers to access high-quality and high-speed internet services. The interim government said Starlink's journey in Bangladesh demonstrates a success. There was no NGSO (Non-Geostationary Orbit) license in Bangladesh 90 days ago, said the government. In these 90 days, Bangladesh has developed an NGSO guideline in record time and an operator satellite internet operator has applied for it and after processing that application, it has been able to start its commercial journey within a period of four months, between February 2025 and May 2025. The government said this is the first and unique event in the history of Bangladesh in terms of rollout of such a telecommunications license.

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has directed the relevant authorities to ensure the commercial launch of Starlink’s satellite broadband internet service in Bangladesh within 90 days. According to officials, during trial broadcasts in the country, Starlink operated using its foreign satellite broadband gateway. But for commercial operations, the company must comply with the Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) policy, which mandates the use of a local broadband gateway or International Internet Gateway (IIG). Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has been in discussions with Bangladesh’s regulatory authorities regarding the licensing process. The government has emphasised the importance of adhering to national regulations, including spectrum allocation and security requirements, before granting full operational approval. Bangladeshi firms join hands with US telecom giant Starlink Dr Yunus has also formally invited Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh for the official launch of the service. The initiative aims to address the recurring instances of internet shutdowns that have disrupted freelance and business activities. Starlink’s entry into the market is seen as a significant breakthrough in ensuring uninterrupted connectivity, particularly benefiting remote communities and local entrepreneurs. Bangladeshi companies are already collaborating with Starlink to establish ground stations, facilitating the integration of satellite connectivity. Starlink's entry ensures uninterrupted internet in Bangladesh: CA’s Press Secretary Dr Yunus stressed that the new service would complement national efforts spearheaded by entities like Grameen Bank and Grameenphone.