Banglalink has received regulatory approval to launch Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service in Bangladesh, allowing customers to stay connected in areas beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.
The approval from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) makes Bangladesh the first country in South Asia to introduce Starlink Direct-to-Cell connectivity, according to Banglalink.
The service will allow Banglalink subscribers with 4G-enabled mobile phones to connect through Starlink satellites where the conventional mobile network is unavailable. No special handset, satellite dish or additional equipment will be required.
Initially, customers will be able to use SMS, data messaging and WhatsApp calls through the satellite connection, the operator said.
The service is expected to extend connectivity to areas including the sea, remote islands, coastal communities and hill tracts, potentially benefiting fishermen, offshore workers, travellers and communities living in areas with limited mobile coverage.
Banglalink said the satellite link could also provide an alternative means of communication during natural disasters such as cyclones and floods, particularly when mobile towers, electricity supplies or other network infrastructure are damaged or unavailable.
The service combines Banglalink’s existing terrestrial mobile network with Starlink’s satellite technology to extend connectivity beyond the geographical limits of traditional mobile coverage.
“This is ultimately about people, not technology,” Banglalink chief executive Johan Buse said.
“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.”
“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.