To enter the internet market in Bangladesh, the two representatives of Starlink, a subsidiary of billionaire Elon Musk’s space agency SpaceX Global Affairs Manager Joel Merith and Global Licensing and Activation Manager Pernil Urdhaores are meeting with the ministers and top government officials one after the other. They are showcasing the latest technology in their speed and service meetings before taking the license. This test run is done by installing the receiver and connector terminal antenna device brought with them to the meeting place.
Last Thursday evening at the office of Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited, they demonstrated the use of this technology in front of the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Mustafa Jabbar, about internet services in Bangladesh through their artificial satellites. BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikdar and Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited Chairman Dr. Shahjahan Mahmud, Commissioners and Director General of BTRC were also present.
In the meeting, conventional internet services rely on cell phone towers and submarine cables, but Starlink provides internet services through artificial satellites. How well Starlink will work in inclement weather, preventing theft of devices, what the dollar-for-service issues might be—those issues came up in the presentation.
However, after the presentation, the meeting asked about the public safety and legal surveillance of this internet service. The issue of government monitoring of what is going to the public through internet services came up. It was said that in the case of Internet services in the country, the government surveillance technology is installed at the gateway of the connections. This surveillance of the government for the national interest, the country’s laws, objectives, etc., are also important.
Sources of the meeting also informed that Starlink representatives will need a license from BTRC to start business in Bangladesh and that there are technical and policy issues under legal supervision.
It has been said that the areas for which this service is available include the affordability of the people, digital security, community standards, etc. Also, through Bangabandhu Satellite-1, the satellite company of Bangladesh has the capability of providing internet services to remote areas. In such a situation, what will be the benefits of Starlink coming, how much Starlink services will challenge the existing structure of the country should also be examined.
It may be noted that, being a satellite-based internet service, using Starlink requires an antenna, which is similar to a miniature dish. With this antenna, internet signal is available at any corner of the building.