Bangladesh Collaborates with Starlink to Establish Ground Earth Station
Several Bangladeshi enterprises have partnered with Starlink, the U.S.-based satellite internet provider, to establish a ground earth station in Bangladesh. As part of this initiative, a delegation from Starlink is currently visiting the country. Multiple local companies have already signed agreements to work jointly with Starlink on this venture.
A press release issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Saturday stated that the partnership encompasses space allocation, construction support, and maintenance of the existing infrastructure.
The Starlink delegation’s visit has allowed Bangladeshi firms to explore their areas of interest in this collaboration. While some local entities will utilize their own resources, others are considering the use of land in high-tech parks for the project.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, informed the state-run news agency BSS that discussions are ongoing regarding location selection and project implementation.
Expressing optimism about the initiative, he said, “Starlink will ensure uninterrupted and high-speed internet access in urban and remote areas, including northern and coastal regions of Bangladesh, overcoming challenges posed by load shedding and natural disasters.”
He further emphasized the impact of Starlink on Bangladesh’s digital economy, stating, “This will provide seamless and high-quality service. Since telecom-grade fiber network coverage remains limited in Bangladesh and many remote areas still face load shedding, Starlink will accelerate daily operations and digital economic activities for our entrepreneurs, freelancers, NGOs, and SMEs.”
Faiz Ahmad added, “We are working to implement a viable model with Starlink within the next 90 days.”
On February 19, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus extended an invitation to U.S. business magnate and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh and launch Starlink’s satellite services in the country. Faiz Ahmad noted that such a visit would offer Musk the opportunity to engage with Bangladesh’s youth, who stand to benefit significantly from this cutting-edge technology.
Previously, in an official letter, the Chief Adviser highlighted that Musk’s visit would allow him to interact with young Bangladeshis, who will be among the primary beneficiaries of this pioneering technology.
The Chief Adviser has also instructed his senior representative, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, to work closely with the SpaceX team to ensure all necessary preparations for launching Starlink in Bangladesh within the next 90 working days.
It is noteworthy that on February 13, the Chief Adviser had a telephone discussion with Elon Musk, during which they deliberated on future cooperation and the introduction of Starlink’s satellite internet services in Bangladesh.
