As Starlink launches in Bangladesh, here's how it will work

After the eagerly anticipated launch of Starlink’s satellite-based internet service in Bangladesh, many are now seeking answers about how it works, who can access it, how much it costs, and what benefits it offers.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, the chief advisor's special assistant on ICT affairs, addressed many of these questions in a Facebook post.

He wrote that from Tuesday, customers in Bangladesh can start placing orders for Starlink internet connections.

To provide further details on the rollout of Starlink's service in Bangladesh, Taiyeb held a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the afternoon, accompanied by the chief advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.

Taiyeb explained that a single Starlink setup costing Tk 47,000 can provide internet equivalent to a mobile tower, making it easier to deliver high-quality internet to remote areas. Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and anyone reliant on digital connectivity will have access to uninterrupted high-speed internet.

He also noted that Starlink has not yet set up a ground station in Bangladesh.

In his Facebook post, Taiyeb mentioned that Starlink is launching in Bangladesh with two packages, Starlink Residential worth Tk 6,000 per month, and Residential Light worth Tk 4,200 per month.

The one-time cost to set up the equipment needed for a connection is Tk 47,000.

The service can be ordered directly from Starlink’s website. The equipment package includes a satellite dish antenna, a Wi-Fi router, a mounting tripod and all necessary cables.

Taiyeb added that the equipment is easy to install, and once it is set up, users can immediately start accessing the internet.

WHO ARE STARLINK USERS?

Taiyeb said many locations in Bangladesh were still not connected via optical fibre, while only 30 percent of mobile towers were connected via fibre.

Most mobile networks relied on low-capacity microwave links.

Thousands of towers operated with just 300Mbps bandwidth, which was sold to thousands of users.

In contrast, he noted, a single Starlink setup box could provide a rural entrepreneur with high-speed, low-latency internet for Tk 47,000.

That same entrepreneur could enjoy speeds comparable to those at parliament or chief advisor’s residence.

IS STARLINK ENTREPRENEUR-FRIENDLY?

Taiyeb said the Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) regulations were tailored to ensure Starlink and similar services remained entrepreneur-friendly.

Individuals or groups could pool Tk 47,000 to buy a setup box and resell the service to nearby shops within a 20–50m Wi-Fi range, common in rural growth centres.

There were no legal barriers to this, he said.

Built-in routers also allowed the service to be extended via additional routers.

He noted that microfinance and financial institutions were encouraged to support this model.

Financing packages for citizen-service entrepreneurs are also being developed to make the adoption process easier, Taiyeb added.

The monthly fee, set at Tk 6,000 and Tk 4,200 after negotiation with Starlink, can be made affordable through shared usage, enabling viable Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) and business models.

The special aide also noted that anyone using Starlink services (excluding mobility and roaming) to feed others is permitted. All legal facilitation has been ensured to boost SME and entrepreneurial development.

Drawing on the “phone lady” model popularised by Yunus, Taiyeb suggested that financial organisations could fund women in rural areas to become “Wi-Fi ladies”, creating a new wave of internet entrepreneurs via microcredit or EMI financing.

WILL NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY BE AFFECTED?

He said Starlink will operate a local gateway, with commercial and ground tests currently ongoing. The company has been given 90 days to complete this process, with 10 days already passed.

After the deadline, using a local gateway will be mandatory, ensuring national security, he added.

Devices will also be subject to rate, value-added tax (VAT), and tax, and require no-objection certificate (NOC) clearance.

WILL ONGOING CHINA-US TRADE CONFLICT AFFECT STARLINK’S USAGE?

Taiyeb clarified that Bangladesh’s 4G and 5G backbones rely heavily on Chinese technology, including Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) and Teletalk projects executed with Chinese engineers and funding.

He emphasised Bangladesh’s neutral stance, allowing both Chinese and American companies to operate freely while protecting national interests.

If other players—Amazon Kuiper, Telesat, Sateliot, or OneWeb—wish to enter the market, the same policies will apply.

IS STARLINK AFFORDABLE FOR RESIDENTIAL USERS?

Taiyeb said multiple adjacent flats in an apartment building could collectively use one Starlink service. Though the signal range is capped at 20m, shared use among a few units or floors is feasible.

Despite the high one-time setup cost, he noted that when shared or used cooperatively, the burden is greatly reduced.

IS STARLINK’S COST HIGH IN BANGLADESH?

According to Taiyeb, regional price analysis shows that Bangladesh offers the lowest rates for Starlink, even compared with Sri Lanka and Thailand.

While the upfront cost may seem high for individual users, the option for unlimited sharing makes it economically feasible for groups.

HOW ARE STATE COMPANIES’ INTERESTS PROTECTED?

Taiyeb said this is being done in two ways: through the state-owned submarine cable company and via the national satellite company.