Page 64 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023
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        Starlink to Make Entry to Bangladesh


        The  government  has  decided  to award a license  to Starlink,
        operated by American aerospace company SpaceX, the brainchild
        of billionaire Elon Musk, in a development that could create some
        competition  in  the  internet  business  in  Bangladesh.  Starlink
        is  a satellite  internet  constellation  which provides  broadband
        connections  to  people  in  over  60  countries.  "In  principle,  I  have
        told the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
        (BTRC)  to  provide  a  license  to  Starlink,"  Zunaid  Ahmed  Palak,
        state minister for telecom and ICT, told The Daily Star. "We want
        to provide equal internet services for people in cities and villages.
        This  will  ensure  internet  connection to remote areas,  especially
        villages,  chars and  islands,"  he  added.  The  decision  came at
        Palak's first meeting with the BTRC after he was entrusted with
        the responsibilities of the Posts and Telecommunications Division
        following Mustafa Jabbar's resignation from the post last week.
        Starlink's arrival in areas with traditional telecom and cable internet
        will  foster  competition,  potentially  leading  to improved  service
        quality and expanded access. As the satellite-based infrastructure
        enables  connectivity  in  regions  where  traditional  telecom and
        cable  services struggle  to reach, it  can empower  people  in
        remote  locations  by  providing  them  with  high-speed  internet,
        thereby unlocking  educational,  economic,  and  communication
        opportunities.  However,  as  mobile  internet  and  broadband  have
        already permeated  almost  all  areas  of Bangladesh,  commercial   crore  internet  subscribers in  Bangladesh,  with  1.25  broadband
        success is  likely  to be limited. The  cost of the  Starlink  internet   internet connections and 11.94 crore mobile internet connections.
        is  also  prohibitively  high  in  the  context  of Bangladesh,  costing   Md  Emdadul  Hoque,  president  of  the  Internet  Service  Provider
        about $120 per month in most locations while the initial hardware   Association  of Bangladesh  (ISPAB),  urged  the  government  to
        costs reach up to $599, according to its website. From local ISPs,   consult all stakeholders before taking this decision. "Our services
        5mbps  broadband  costs  about  Tk  500  per month while  mobile   are  now everywhere  in  Bangladesh,  except  some  islands.  So,
        internet  cost  between  Tk  400-500  per  30GB.  Earlier,  SpaceX   why  do  we  need  satellite  internet,"  he  said.  Shahed  Alam, chief
        expressed its intention to launch Starlink services in Bangladesh   corporate  and  regulatory  officer  at  Robi  Axiata  Ltd,  welcomed
        and its officials met with multiple government entities to this end   Starlink's entry, hoping hoped it would provide services to areas
        in June this year. Joel Meredith, manager for global government   without  access  to  fiber-based  internet  services.  "We  also  hope
        affairs  at  SpaceX,  and  Parnil  Urdhwareshe,  manager  for  global   that  the  regulator would ensure  principles  of 'same rule for  the
        licensing and activation, made presentations on its features. In a   same service', including regulations and taxation, as applicable to
        demonstration to the Bangladesh Satellite Company Ltd (BSCL),   all wireless service providers," he added. Fahim Mashroor, CEO of
        Starlink's internet and download speeds reached about 500mbps,   Bdjobs.com, said any new technology should be welcomed. "But,
        according  to chairman Shahjahan  Mahmood.  Download speeds   it's very costly and very few people are likely to use it," he said. Palak
        reached 150mbps in another demonstration to the ICT Division.   said the decision was taken to welcome new technology but added
        The BSCL collected five Starlink terminals (Starlink Kits) to analyze   that prices had not yet been discussed. SpaceX, currently worth
        the  technology  and  analyze  how  they  work  during  rain,  fog  and   about  $150  billion,  provides  satellite  internet  coverage  to  more
        inclement  weather.  "We  have  seen  the  test  results  and  they  are   than 60 countries with about 4,519 Starlink satellites currently in
        good. Now they  have  to  apply  for a  license,"  Palak  added.  One   orbit. The company has said Starlink has more than 2 million active
        of the major hurdles to getting the license was the government's   customers and is available on all seven continents. On May 11, 2018,
        'lawful  interception  requirement',  which  SpaceX  officials  were   the Bangabandhu Satellite-1, Bangladesh's first and lone satellite,
        asked to ensure. In Bangladesh, the law permits some government   was launched into orbit at a cost of Tk 2,765 crore. In September
        agencies  to  access  or surveil  telecommunication  technology   this year, Bangladesh signed a letter of intent with France for its
        to monitor criminal activities. "We are positive. We have already   second satellite, which will be an earth observation satellite. "The
        given them permission for testing," BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder   BSCL's satellite, the cost of which was borne by public funds and
        Sikder said. Asked about the lawful interception law, he said the   commercial loans, has evidently failed. But the government has to
        BTRC  would ensure that  all  conditions  under the  law had  been   answer where it has failed, necessitating the entry of Starlink," Abu
        met before awarding the license. As of October, there were 13.18   Saeed Khan, a senior policy fellow at LIRNEasia, said.






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