Starlink Receives Bida Approval to Launch in Bangladesh

Starlink, the satellite internet service provider owned by SpaceX, has secured approval from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) to operate in the country. The announcement was made by Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of Bida and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on 6 April, ahead of the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025.

"We granted approval on 29 March," Harun confirmed, marking a significant step for Starlink’s expansion into Bangladesh’s growing digital landscape.

Foreign companies are required to register with Bida to conduct business in Bangladesh, and this approval is a crucial milestone for Starlink’s planned operations.

The development follows a key conversation between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, on 13 February, during which they discussed potential collaborations and the introduction of Starlink's satellite internet services in Bangladesh.

In March, several Bangladeshi companies entered into agreements with Starlink to facilitate the establishment of ground stations across the country. These agreements were signed during a visit by a Starlink delegation to Bangladesh.

At a press briefing on 23 March, Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun revealed that Starlink would conduct a demonstration of its satellite internet services during the upcoming Bangladesh Investment Summit. However, this will be a demo and not a commercial launch, which is expected to take more time.

In response to the growing anticipation, the Chief Adviser has directed relevant authorities to ensure the commercial launch of Starlink’s services within 90 days.

On 26 March, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) also published its final guidelines for satellite internet service providers. These guidelines include provisions for the government to intercept internet content, similar to existing regulations for mobile and fibre-optic broadband services.

This approval signals a major step forward in Bangladesh's connectivity landscape, with Starlink poised to contribute to expanding internet access across the country.