Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL), the country’s exclusive satellite provider, recently held discussions with Starlink officials to explore partnership opportunities aimed at fast-tracking Starlink’s entry into the Bangladesh market in the coming months. The meeting took place on Sunday, as reported by the Daily Star.
BSCL proposed a strategic collaboration, offering services such as sales and marketing, post-sales customer support, distribution of Starlink kits, and revenue collection through its banking channels. Additionally, the proposal includes hosting Starlink’s gateway at BSCL’s ground stations in Gazipur and Betbunia.
The BSCL also highlighted the advantages of its infrastructure for a potential Starlink partnership, including uninterrupted power supply, redundant fiber connections, 24/7 maintenance, and highly secured facilities.
In a related development, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Prof Muhammad Yunus, held an online meeting with SpaceX and Starlink CEO Elon Musk last month to discuss the possibility of bringing Starlink services to Bangladesh. BSCL’s managing director, Muhammad Imadur Rahman, mentioned that Yunus aims to launch Starlink services by May 2025.
Discussions between BSCL and Starlink have been ongoing since May 2023, with successful tests of Starlink kits conducted in Dhaka, Rangpur, Hatia, and the Bay of Bengal.
On the regulatory front, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) began working on guidelines last year to regulate LEO and MEO satellite broadband service providers, including provisions allowing wholly owned foreign companies to obtain licenses. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology has also proposed a 25% rebate on fees for foreign satellite companies partnering with local operators. The first draft of these guidelines was completed in October 2024, but they have yet to be finalized.
