Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has approved the license for Starlink, a United States-based NGSO service provider, on Monday (April 28), according to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Office.

Starlink marks a new addition to Bangladesh’s internet sector. After Sri Lanka, Bangladesh becomes the second country in South Asia where the global satellite internet provider has launched its services.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and ICT Affairs, said bringing Starlink to Bangladesh became a public demand during the July uprising when the previous autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina repeatedly shut down the internet.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said Starlink’s services will ensure uninterrupted high-speed internet that does not go down with load-shedding, unlike services from traditional ISPs and mobile operators. 

He explained that during prolonged power cuts, mobile towers' batteries often run out, disrupting internet service, but such issues will not occur with Starlink.

Earlier, on March 25, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued the "Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Services Operator in Bangladesh" licensing guideline. Under this guideline, Starlink applied with the required documents and fees to operate in Bangladesh. On April 21, BTRC’s 294th Commission Meeting made a policy decision to approve Starlink’s license.

MSK/