Staff Reporter :
Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, officially commenced operations in Bangladesh on Tuesday, marking a major step forward for the country’s digital infrastructure.
The announcement, made via Starlink’s official X account, confirmed that its high-speed, low-latency internet is now accessible across Bangladesh, including remote and underserved regions.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser at the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, confirmed the launch during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
He acknowledged the high cost of the service but highlighted its potential to deliver sustainable, high-quality internet, particularly to premium users and those in fibre-deprived areas.
Starlink’s arrival comes just under three months after the Yunus-led interim government expressed interest in the service. The government has since acted swiftly, fulfilling its goal to roll out Starlink within 90 days.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus praised the achievement as a forward-looking move that strengthens the nation’s digital ambitions and inclusion.
The service offers unlimited data with speeds of up to 300 Mbps.
Two residential packages have been introduced: the standard “Residential” plan at Tk6,000 per month and a lower-tier “Residential Lite” at Tk4,200. However, a significant one-time setup fee of Tk47,000 applies to each connection, covering the required antenna and router.
To regulate and ensure tax compliance, a no-objection certificate (NoC) will be required for every Starlink device, with the company paying $1 per active connection monthly, and an annual government fee of $30,000.
Taiyeb also outlined the service’s entrepreneurial potential.
Drawing inspiration from the “phone lady” concept pioneered by Professor Yunus, he proposed the creation of “WiFi ladies” – rural women empowered through microcredit and financial packages to operate community internet hubs using Starlink.
These women could offer internet access locally, resell bandwidth, or establish informal co-working spaces.
The government is working on financial incentives and packages to support such civic entrepreneurs, with Starlink’s Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) regulations crafted to be business-friendly.
While the service remains expensive for the average user, Starlink’s launch is viewed as a transformative moment in Bangladesh’s journey towards digital inclusion, especially in regions where traditional internet infrastructure is still lacking.
