US-based satellite internet provider Starlink has received approval from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) to operate in the country, according to Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of BIDA and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority. He made the announcement during a press conference on Sunday about the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 in Dhaka.
Ashik Mahmud explained that BIDA introduced a Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) policy for Starlink on March 29, after which the company applied for a BIDA licence. The application process has now been completed, and Starlink has applied for an NGSO licence, which the BIDA plans to issue shortly.
“After obtaining the licence, Starlink can begin operations at any time,” he said. “However, they may need time to import their devices and establish a service model for the local market.” He also mentioned that Starlink would be used to support the summit from the Hotel InterContinental on April 9, with attendees able to connect their devices through the service.
Starlink, known for being the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet, supports activities such as streaming, online gaming, and video calls. The company’s entry into Bangladesh is seen as a significant step in attracting global tech giants to the country’s growing digital infrastructure sector.
Earlier, on February 13, Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the government, held extensive discussions with Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX (which owns Starlink), regarding potential collaborations and introducing Starlink’s services in Bangladesh. A Starlink team visited the country last month, and several Bangladeshi companies signed agreements to assist with establishing ground earth stations.
Ashik Mahmud also announced at a March 23 briefing that Starlink would demonstrate its internet services at the upcoming Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025. However, he clarified that this demonstration would not mark the commercial launch, which is expected to take more time.
