“We Can Build Inclusive Satellite Internet with Our Own LEO Fleet” — Dr. Imadur Rahman

Dr. Imadur Rahman, Chairman of Muslim Aid Sweden Chapter, is an academic researcher, inventor, social worker, and a prominent figure among Bangladeshi expatriates in the global telecom sector. With over 17 years of research experience in wireless communication and more than 300 patents to his name, he is now leading Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) to recover lost ground and establish the country’s sovereignty in space using home-grown strategies rather than foreign prescriptions. In a recent conversation at his office with SM Imdadul Haque, Executive Editor of DigiBanglaTech.news, he shared insights on BSCL’s activities, challenges, and future potential.

Q: The cost of launching Bangladesh’s first satellite has been widely debated. What’s your take?

A: Bangladesh Satellite-1 certainly cost more than it should have. While the services it provides—primarily communication and broadcast—were necessary, the expenditure was excessive. Ideally, this should not have happened.

Q: How much overspending are we talking about?

A: Very tough to say precisely. But I estimate that we overspent by around 30%. I can’t give you the exact number, but many activities were outsourced in ways that a professional organization wouldn't have done if the national interest had been prioritized. It’s like the infamous pillow scandal—paying double the price for things. Generally speaking, there was a lot of overpricing.

Q: What has Bangladesh Satellite-1 achieved in these seven years?

A: Despite its capabilities, the satellite’s achievements have been limited. It was supposed to break even by the seventh year, but we are still in the red. The previous management, prior to August 5, failed to utilize it effectively. They didn’t push it in the international market. That said, earlier our TV channels used foreign satellites, which drained foreign currency. Now, those services are retained domestically. The armed forces also use BS-1, enhancing national security. But we still haven’t tapped into its full potential.

Q: How much revenue has been earned so far?

A: Till now, BSCL has earned approximately BDT 970 crore in revenue, although operational costs are included in that figure. We are also enhancing revenue through value-added services.

Q: Why couldn’t we tap into international markets? What were the barriers?

A: Before August 5, certain vested interests actively blocked our entry into foreign markets. Moreover, our service pricing was too high compared to market standards, and due to bandwidth and frequency mismatches, we fell behind globally. These issues were never resolved. Worse, before launching the satellite, we didn’t coordinate with countries where our satellite footprint extends. Now, acquiring landing rights in those countries has become a major challenge.

Q: But weren’t we supposed to expand into countries covered by our satellite’s footprint?

A: Exactly. Coordination should have been done prior to launch, but it wasn’t. That has made it difficult now. There were also promising deals that fell through due to mismanagement and political interference. For example, we had the potential to sell five transponders in the KU-band to Nepal’s DTH service, but that deal was blocked by internal politics.

Q: Are you satisfied with the current revenue from BS-1?

A: Not really. About 35% of BS-1’s capacity is still unsold. Now, we’re struggling to sell it at a reasonable price due to the high rates we previously set. Because we overspent, we can’t afford to lower the prices either. Had we generated consistent revenue during the first half of the satellite’s life, we might be in profit now. We are stuck between mismatched supply and demand.

Q: So does that mean we’ll never profit from BS-1?

A: Seven years have already passed. We have about 8 to 8.5 years left. Forget profits—recovering the cost will be very tough.

Q: Are we still exploring foreign markets? If yes, when will efforts resume?

A: We’re maintaining regular communication with potential international clients. Talks are ongoing with parties in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Nepal. We’re trying hard to secure deals. Since we also have coverage over Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, we’re looking for buyers there too.

Q: What portion of the domestic market is currently covered by BS-1?

A: In the broadcast industry, we’ve achieved complete self-sufficiency.

Q: What’s the status of our second satellite? When might it launch?

A: The government is in discussions on an Earth Observation Satellite. Financing methods are still being discussed, and it ultimately depends on government decisions. Personally, I am focused on minimizing national expenditure in this process.

Q: Earlier it was said the second satellite would be a weather satellite. Has that changed?

A: The second satellite will be for Earth observation—a remote-sensing satellite. It will support our agriculture, water resources, land use, and contribute to national security, sovereignty, and economic growth. We’ve learned from BS-1’s mistakes. We are first building a customer base and conducting socio-economic impact assessments. Four companies have submitted proposals which we’ve already presented to the decision-makers.

Q: What would be the estimated cost of this second satellite?

A: It should cost between BDT 5,000 to 6,000 crore. It will positively impact urbanization, climate change mitigation, and deforestation monitoring.

Q: Some claim our satellite is in orbit over Kazakhstan. Why can’t we bring it over Bangladesh?

A: That’s incorrect. BS-1 is positioned at 119.1° East longitude, a geostationary slot near Indonesia—not Kazakhstan.

Q: Satellite internet is a hot topic now. What is BSCL’s plan for that?

A: Satellite is an excellent solution for connecting people in areas where fiber or wireless connectivity is not viable. Satellite can support education, healthcare, and financial inclusion in remote locations. We’re in discussions with various companies. One private firm has already been appointed as our retail agent.

Q: Is there any plan to launch low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites from Bangladesh? What would it cost?

A: We have plans, but funding is a major concern. Our initial analysis suggests that launching 10–12 LEO satellites would enable us to provide nationwide satellite internet. It may cost around BDT 10,000 crore. I personally believe this can be done through a public-private investment model. But ultimately, this depends on government policy.