Banglalink gets nod for limited Starlink service

Banglalink has received approval from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to launch a limited Starlink Direct-to-Cell service, which it says makes Bangladesh the first country in South Asia to introduce the technology.

Initially, Banglalink subscribers with 4G-enabled handsets will be able to access SMS, data messaging, and WhatsApp calls through the connection in areas with Direct-to-Cell coverage, the operator said in a statement yesterday.

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The satellite technology lets standard 4G LTE mobile phones connect directly to Starlink satellites in orbit without requiring a special handset, dish, extra hardware, or custom apps.

By combining Banglalink’s mobile network with Starlink’s satellite system, the service will extend connectivity to areas beyond conventional networks, including the sea, remote islands, coastal communities, and hill tracts.

It could prove particularly useful for fishermen, remote communities, and people travelling through locations without mobile coverage, according to the statement.

The service could also provide an alternative means of communication during cyclones, floods, and other natural disasters, as well as during power outages or when mobile towers and other network infrastructure are damaged or unavailable.

“This is ultimately about people, not technology. A fisherman far out at sea, a family in a remote area, or someone caught in a natural disaster should not have to worry about being beyond the reach of mobile services,” said Johan Buse, chief executive officer of Banglalink.

“With Starlink, Banglalink is taking mobile connectivity beyond the boundaries of traditional networks and bringing it to more people, in more places, across Bangladesh,” he added.