Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has granted Starlink a licence to operate satellite internet services in the country today.

"We have issued the licence after receiving approval from the chief adviser and upon Starlink's payment of the required fees," said BTRC Chairman Md Emdad ul Bari.

When asked about the time of the launch, the chairman said, "They will inform us how they plan to set up the local gateway and ground station with their local partners."

He added that Starlink must also obtain tariff approval before launching the service.

Read more

Starlink will end internet shutdowns

Yesterday, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus approved the licence for Starlink to operate in Bangladesh, a mandatory step before the BTRC can issue the licence.

As per telecom regulations, BTRC is required to obtain pre-approval from the telecom ministry before making key decisions, including granting licences.

Earlier on March 25, the BTRC issued the "Licensing Guidelines for Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Services Operator in Bangladesh".

Under these guidelines, Starlink Services Bangladesh applied to BTRC for an NGSO Satellite Services Operator License, submitting the applicable fees and necessary documents.

The company's local office is registered at a building in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.

After receiving the application, BTRC formed a seven-member committee to evaluate it. The committee verified all submitted documents and found them to be authentic and complete, recommending Starlink for the licence.

"This is the swiftest recommendation BTRC has ever made for such a licence," said an official of the commission.

Read more

Could Starlink solve the connectivity challenges in Bangladesh?

Subsequently, a two-member team from the BTRC visited Starlink's Bangladesh office and also recommended granting the licence.

This development follows a directive from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in March, asking authorities to ensure Starlink's commercial launch within 90 days.

Starlink officials could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.