Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh’s interim government has granted a licence to Starlink, the US-based Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) service provider, enabling the company to offer satellite internet services within the country.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus approved the licence on Monday, as confirmed by a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.
With this approval, Bangladesh becomes the second South Asian nation, after Sri Lanka, to authorise Starlink – owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX – to launch its services.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, explained that following the July uprising, during which the previous government frequently disrupted internet access, there was a strong public demand for Starlink’s services in Bangladesh.
Taiyeb noted that the Chief Adviser was eager to signal the country’s growing openness to foreign investment.
He further highlighted that one of the key objectives of bringing Starlink to Bangladesh is to ensure continuous, high-quality internet services in remote areas such as haor regions, islands, hilly terrains, and disaster-prone coastal zones, where fibre-optic networks are not yet available.
“Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus personally reached out to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, urging him to launch Starlink’s operations in Bangladesh within 90 days,” Taiyeb said.
He added that agencies such as the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and the Chief Adviser’s Office worked collaboratively to make this possible.
Taiyeb further explained that Starlink would offer reliable, high-speed internet that would remain unaffected by electricity outages.
Unlike traditional ISPs and mobile networks, which often face disruptions during power cuts due to failing tower batteries, Starlink’s satellite-based system will remain operational even during prolonged blackouts.
Around 65% of telecom towers in Bangladesh are still reliant on limited-capacity microwave links instead of fibre-optic backhaul, and mobile network coverage along highways remains problematic. Starlink’s services are expected to address these critical gaps.
Taiyeb also emphasised that the entry of Starlink would introduce greater competition into Bangladesh’s mobile and broadband markets, moving away from traditional voice and data bundles towards a more service-oriented digital ecosystem.
“With Starlink’s arrival, we anticipate a new era of deregulation in the communications sector, enhanced competition, and greater access to uninterrupted, high-speed internet across both urban and rural areas,” he added.
Earlier this year, on 25 March, the BTRC issued guidelines for Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Services Operators in Bangladesh.
Following these guidelines, Starlink Services Bangladesh submitted its application, including the necessary documentation and fees. Subsequently, on 21 April, the BTRC took a policy decision to approve the issuance of a licence for Starlink’s operations.
