Starlink Starts Service in Bangladesh: Satellite Speeds for the South Asian Skies
After a successful mock trial during the Bangladesh Investment Summit, Starlink has officially launched its commercial operations in the country, making Bangladesh the second South Asian nation—after Sri Lanka—to receive Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet service.
Initially, Starlink is offering two monthly packages: one priced at BDT 6,000 and the other at BDT 4,200. In both cases, users must make a one-time payment of BDT 47,000 for the hardware setup, which includes a satellite dish, router, power supply, and accessories necessary to establish the connection.
The official confirmation of the launch came on Monday (May 19) afternoon, when Starlink representatives informed a Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. The following morning, Starlink confirmed the launch on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday (May 20), Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT, wrote: “At launch, Starlink is starting with two packages—Starlink Residence and Residence Lite. The monthly cost for one is BDT 6,000, and for the other BDT 4,200. A one-time fee of BDT 47,000 will be required for setup equipment,” he added.
The post quickly went viral, drawing hundreds of likes, love reactions, comments, and shares.
Earlier, during the Bangladesh Investment Summit on April 9 at InterContinental Dhaka, visitors had the chance to test Starlink’s satellite internet for the first time. At the stall of Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL), attendees could connect to satellite-driven internet by scanning a special QR code. Up to 45 people were connected simultaneously. Speed tests using Fast.com showed speeds between 170 Mbps and 220 Mbps. At that time, connectivity was routed via a Malaysian IID link.
Starlink received its investment registration approval from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) on March 29. On April 29, the company was granted 90 working days to begin operations. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) later issued two licenses to Starlink Services Bangladesh Limited: a 10-year Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) Operator License and a Radio Communication Apparatus License.
At that time, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb had told Prothom Alo, “There’s a possibility of Starlink launching in Bangladesh around mid-May. They’ve requested commercial service permission without a local gateway, which the government will allow for 90 days. They are also working on tariff plans and will apply to BTRC for pricing approval.”
On Tuesday, Taiyeb confirmed the launch.
To get connected, customers must first register their interest on Starlink’s official website (starlink.com) and pay a pre-order fee to confirm. After receiving the Starlink kit—containing a satellite dish, router, and setup guide—users can activate their connection using the Starlink mobile app.
Regardless of the package chosen, the one-time equipment fee of BDT 47,000 is mandatory. This setup enables users to access high-speed, satellite-based internet, particularly beneficial for underserved or remote locations.
Owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink uses low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver internet service, especially targeting rural and hard-to-reach areas. Experts believe this technology holds strong promise in countries like Bangladesh, where fiber-optic or broadband networks have not yet reached many remote regions. In such places, Starlink could prove to be a game-changer.
