Starlink can redefine internet connectivity in Bangladesh: Tech experts

Bangladesh could transform internet connectivity with NGSO networks like Starlink, driving up education, economy and social inclusion through high-speed, low-latency access, said technology experts.

They said Starlink's internet download speeds range from 25 to 220 Mbps, with most users experiencing speeds over 100 Mbps, while upload speeds typically range from 5 to 20 Mbps.

On Thursday, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus held a video discussion with Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, Tesla, and X to explore future collaboration and advance the introduction of Starlink satellite internet in Bangladesh.

Talking to BSS, Mustafa Mahmud Hussain, a telecom and technology analyst, said Bangladesh is on the cusp of adopting Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) satellite services to modernize its digital infrastructure.

With flexible regulations that encourage competition and innovation, the country can boost connectivity for millions, unlocking new opportunities in healthcare, education, business, and community development, he opined.
 
"It (Starlink) might be a good option to provide internet connectivity in remote and unconnected areas of the country to minimize the shortcomings of the existing market players," he said.

Meanwhile, Veon Ltd, parent company of mobile phone operator Banglalink and a Dubai-based telecommunications company, is exploring opportunities to bring satellite-powered mobile services to Bangladesh in partnership with Elon Musk's Starlink, aiming to bridge connectivity gaps in areas where terrestrial networks fall short.

To this end, Banglalink is expected to seal up a deal with SpaceX in the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, according to industry insiders.
 
Welcoming the possible arrival of Starlink, telecom expert Lt Col (Retd) Mohammad Zulfikar told BSS that it might have something good as a huge number of people across the globe have been using this technology.

However, he, like many others, is curious about the cost of satellite-based internet, given the potential high expense of satellite network connectivity. "Now, the issue is how much money will be required to get the service?" he questioned.
 
Mohammad Zulfikar, who is currently the secretary general of AMTOB, said SpaceX designs tariffs in different ways for the countries in Southeast Asia and Africa as they actually want to ensure the inclusion of people to their network. "Now, we all have to wait what rate they will fix for us."
 
According to Starlink's website, users will have to buy some equipment to use the service at home. There is a receiver or antenna, kickstand, router, cable and power supply. This is called the Starlink kit, which costs from $349 to $599.
 
Starlink's minimum monthly fee for residential customers is $120. For corporate customers, the price of the Starlink kit and monthly fee is more than double. However, prices vary by country.
 
Mustafa Mahmud Hussain said Starlink offers very low price in the villages of some African countries, ranging between US$ 10 and US$ 30. "There is no doubt that end users in Bangladesh in remote and unconnected areas will be benefited after the arrival of Starlink."

According to the industry people, mobile network operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide internet services to the users collecting bandwidth from the IIG operators which solely depended on submarine cable and international terrestrial cable (ITC).

Starlink provides internet services through satellites. According to the information provided on the website of Starlink's parent company, SpaceX, their internet service comes from geostationary (fixed satellites), which orbit the Earth from an altitude of 35,786 kilometers. Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit that could provide high-speed internet to the entire world.

As of January 30 of this year, 6,994 Starlink satellites have been deployed. These satellites orbit about 342 miles (550 kilometers) above the Earth.

SpaceX's Starlink project began in 2015 and was officially launched in 2019. They have operations in more than 100 countries around the world. The first Starlink operation started in Bhutan in South Asia.

To get Starlink internet service, the customer needs to install a device (device) like a television antenna, which communicates with the satellites orbiting the Earth. The customer gets internet service by installing a Starlink router with this antenna.
 
Starlink had brought its technology to Bangladesh in July 2023 for testing. 
 
In October 2024, a Starlink delegation came to Dhaka and met with Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) also prepared a draft guideline in October.

The name of the BTRC's proposed guideline is "Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Services Operator".
 
During their conversation, Prof Yunus and Elon Musk emphasised the transformational impact of Starlink's satellite communications, particularly for Bangladesh's enterprising youth, rural and vulnerable women and remote communities.

They discussed how high-speed, low-cost internet connectivity could bridge the digital divide in Bangladesh, empowering education, healthcare, and economic development in underserved regions and giving its millions of small and micro entrepreneurs' access beyond the national boundary.