NoC is mandatory in installing Starlink connections: Taiyeb
Starlink has to pay $1 to the Bangladesh government in each connection monthly to remain tax and VAT compliant, said the special assistant to the chief adviser
A no-objection certificate (NoC) will be required from the government to take Starlink connections as Starlink started its official journey today (20 May), Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser at the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology, said.
He made the remark while speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital today.
About the installation of Starlink connections, Taiyeb said a setup box, which includes an antenna and a router, will be needed to get each Starlink connection.
He mentioned that today is a historic day for Bangladesh as it moved to a new generation internet service on this day.
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Noting that Starlink has announced two packages for Bangladeshi subscribers, Taiyeb said the cost of Starlink Residential is Tk6,000 per month, while Residential Lite is Tk4,200 per month.
In addition, he said there will be a setup cost of Tk47,000 for installing each Starlink collection
He said Starlink has to pay $1 to the Bangladesh government in each connection monthly to remain tax and VAT compliant.
"As we will collect VAT and tax from every connected device, they have to take a no-objection certificate against each device…we think there will be no scope to dodge tax and VAT," he said.
The special assistant said Starlink also paid the government a yearly fee of $30,000.
Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were present at a press briefing.
'Starlink may help create WiFi ladies'
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said through Starlink, a new generation of entrepreneurs could be created as WiFi ladies following the "phone lady concept" of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
"Through Starlink, companies and financial organisations can create a new generation of entrepreneurs as WiFi ladies applying our microcredit or EMI or any MFI/MRA system," he told the press briefing.
Taiyeb said if financial institutions or NGOs want, they can give special loan only to rural women through which they can sell internet services with Starlink.
"In that case, apart from buildings, you can also join this process through informal co-working businesses," he added.
The special assistant said the government will help Starlink entrepreneurs manage loans from microcredit authority or financial organisations or banks.
"We are also planning to work on a financial package for those who will be civic service entrepreneurs, - how to easily take Starlink services," he said.
Taiyeb said the government has made the Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) regulations in such a way that Starlink or similar internet facilities become entrepreneur-friendly.
If an entrepreneur or multiple entrepreneurs form a fund of Tk47,000, they will be able to buy an internet setup box through this fund, he said.
By buying it, they will be able to sell or provide this internet service in their nearby shops or other people, he said.
