The trial use of Starlink’s internet service will begin today, Wednesday, at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka, the venue of the Bangladesh Investment Summit.
All participants present at the venue will be able to use the service. The event will also be livestreamed using Starlink’s internet connection.
Starlink offers high-speed internet, although it is costlier compared to other internet services. However, the pricing of its services varies from country to country. In South Asia, Bhutan was the first to launch Starlink services earlier this year.
Apart from Bangladesh, steps are also underway to launch Starlink in India, where the company has already signed agreements with two tech firms. Tech experts say that Starlink’s arrival in Bangladesh could make high-speed internet easily accessible in remote areas.
As a result, the urban-rural divide in internet access could shrink. Young people in villages would be able to engage in freelancing and other internet-based work using high-speed connections.
Starlink could also play a key role in restoring communications quickly after natural disasters.
Starlink has already registered as an investor with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), receiving registration on March 29.
However, to provide internet services, Starlink still needs a license from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), which has already approved the licensing process. Earlier, BIDA’s Executive Chairman, Chaudhury Ashiq Mahmood Harun, had mentioned Starlink’s registration.
He said, “We approved Starlink on March 29 based on our commitment to allow them to begin operations within 90 days”.
