The rollout comes just 90 days after Starlink received its licence from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on 29 April—a process officials say is the fastest Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite internet licence approval in the country’s history.
Starlink, the satellite internet venture by SpaceX, has officially launched high-speed satellite broadband services in Bangladesh, aiming to revolutionize internet access in underserved regions. Offering speeds of up to 300 Mbps with unlimited data, the service is especially targeted at rural and remote areas that lack reliable fibre connectivity.
Two consumer plans are now available: the “Starlink Residential” package at Tk 6,000 per month (approximately INR 4,500) and the more affordable “Residential Lite” at Tk 4,200 (approximately INR 3,150). Both packages require a one-time installation cost of Tk 47,000 (around INR 35,000). These prices are lower than the initially proposed Tk 7,000 monthly plan, thanks to negotiations with local authorities to make the service more accessible.
The launch follows swift regulatory approval by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), which granted Starlink its Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite internet licence within 90 days—a record pace in the country’s telecom sector.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus stated the service ensures stable connectivity, unaffected by political unrest, unlike during the 2024 student protests when the internet was blocked.
Each Starlink terminal covers an area of about 20–30 metres, making it suitable for multiple rooms in a residential setup. To boost adoption, particularly among institutions offering public services, the Bangladeshi government is exploring financial support schemes. These may include partnerships with banks, microfinance institutions, and development agencies to subsidize hardware and operational costs.
Starlink’s arrival marks a significant step forward in closing the digital divide in Bangladesh and complements broader regional growth in satellite communications, with markets like India also seeing heightened interest from global players like Starlink and OneWeb.
