The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers’ Association has urged the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to hold a public hearing before the launch of Starlink’s satellite internet service in the country.
In a press statement, the association’s president, Mohiuddin Ahmed, emphasized the need for transparency regarding service quality, pricing, data limits, speed, signal transmission, latency, and package terms.
Ahmed pointed out that while Starlink has applied for approval from the BTRC and received a positive response from the government, details on service standards and affordability remain unclear. He drew a comparison to past regulatory practices, citing the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission’s public hearing before granting licenses for LNG imports to determine pricing. He argued that a similar approach should be taken to ensure accountability and fair pricing for satellite internet services.
Citing Bhutan’s pricing model for Starlink, Ahmed noted that the ‘Residential Light’ package costs 3,000 Ngultrum (approximately 4,200 BDT) per month, offering speeds ranging from 23 Mbps to 100 Mbps. The ‘Standard Residential’ package costs 4,200 Ngultrum (around 5,800 BDT) for speeds between 25 Mbps and 110 Mbps. However, he stressed that such pricing may not be feasible in Bangladesh due to differences in tax structures and consumers’ purchasing power.
To ensure satellite internet services are accessible and affordable for the people of Bangladesh, the association has urged the BTRC to organize a public hearing. The organization also announced plans to formally submit a request to the commission in the coming days.
