The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has issued new draft guidelines paving the way for foreign companies, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Starlink service, to provide satellite internet in the country. The guidelines, titled “Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Services Operators in Bangladesh,” allow foreign entities to build, own, and operate satellite systems in Bangladesh.
The draft guidelines outline the requirements for foreign companies to acquire licenses and start operations. Among the most significant conditions is that the licensee must share 5.5 percent of its annual audited gross revenue with the BTRC, in addition to contributing 1 percent of the revenue toward the development and management of the space industry.
The guidelines also specify that a minimum of one gateway system must be established within Bangladesh before services can begin. However, the BTRC has encouraged operators to set up additional gateways to enhance connectivity. Additionally, any user terminal within Bangladesh’s borders must be authenticated and routed through the local gateway, ensuring that all traffic stays within the country for services.
The regulations also stipulate that operators must preserve critical records like internet protocol details, transaction records, call detail records (CDRs), and system logs for a period of one year, available for scrutiny by authorities such as the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre. These records will help ensure compliance with national laws and regulations.
NGSO satellites, unlike traditional geostationary satellites, orbit Earth at a lower altitude and higher speed. The change to NGSO systems could offer more efficient satellite internet coverage to underserved and remote areas of Bangladesh. SpaceX’s Starlink, which already serves over 60 countries with more than 4,500 satellites in orbit, is one of the major players hoping to enter the Bangladeshi market. Other companies like OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are also expected to compete for market share in the coming years.
The guidelines outline that the license will be valid for five years, and operators will be permitted to provide a variety of satellite services, including broadband internet, intranet services, Internet of Things (IoT) communications, machine-to-machine communication, remote sensing, meteorological services, and more. However, the BTRC has excluded satellite TV broadcasting, direct-to-home services, and telecommunications services from being offered by these satellite internet operators.
To obtain a license, the application fee has been set at Tk 5 lakh, while the acquisition fee is $10,000. An annual fee of $50,000 is also required, along with a $20 fee per terminal for station/terminal usage.
The regulatory changes come after discussions between Starlink officials and the BTRC and other authorities in Bangladesh. The company, which has been attempting to enter the market since 2021, is now closer than ever to being granted permission to offer its satellite internet services in the country.
However, the costs associated with satellite technology may pose challenges in Bangladesh. For example, Starlink’s services are priced around $120 per month for home users, with initial hardware costs ranging from $350 to $599. In comparison, local broadband providers offer 5 Mbps speeds for around Tk 500 per month, and mobile internet is available for Tk 400 to Tk 500 for 30GB of data.
Despite the high costs, experts believe that the introduction of NGSO satellite internet could bring significant benefits to Bangladesh, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Mustafa Mahmud Hussain, a telecom policy analyst, emphasized the potential for transformative change: “Expanding connectivity in remote, underserved areas can empower students, drive business growth, and strengthen community bonds,” he said. “Achieving this vision calls for fewer bureaucratic hurdles and affordable pricing, with the BTRC’s support as a catalyst for change.”
With these new guidelines, Bangladesh is set to enter a new era of satellite internet connectivity, offering a potential solution to the country’s longstanding challenge of providing reliable internet access to its most remote regions.
