Starlink seeks to source bandwidth from Bangladesh to neighbouring countries

US-based satellite internet company Starlink has expressed interest in purchasing bandwidth from Bangladesh to provide internet services to neighbouring countries, according to a letter the firm sent to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

In its letter dated 13 August, Starlink proposed using Bangladesh as a Point of Presence (PoP) to extend its services to nearby PoPs and countries in the region.

To facilitate this, the company has requested commercial permission to use International Private Leased Circuits (IPLC) and unfiltered IP connections for cross-border data transmission.

Starlink officially launched its commercial operations in Bangladesh in May 2025. The company currently provides satellite-based internet services in Sri Lanka and Bhutan, while operations in India and Nepal are awaiting final approval.

At present, Bangladesh’s internet services are primarily submarine cable-dependent, with bandwidth transmitted through undersea fiber cables and distributed domestically by mobile network operators and internet service providers (ISPs).