Representatives of satellite internet provider Starlink – a division of Elon Musk’s SpaceX – have met the officials of Bangladesh’s ICT department, expressing keen interest to provide high speed internet connectivity and seamless communication in the country.
After a year of negotiations, SpaceX officials, including Joel Merith, the Global Affairs Manager, and Pernil Urdhaores, the Global Licensing and Activation Manager held a meeting with State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak in the capital’s ICT Tower on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the state minister tested the groundbreaking potential of Starlink's technology by installing a Starlink antenna on the roof of the tower, achieving an impressive internet speed of 150 Mbps.
Witnessing this remarkable feat, Palak extended an invitation to Tesla CEO Elon Musk to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, recognising the transformative impact of Starlink's satellite broadband in Bangladesh.
Highlighting the significance of this partnership, Palak announced the upcoming launch of the Starlink pilot program, aiming to connect geographically isolated and disaster-affected communities to uninterrupted high-speed internet.
This move is poised to uplift marginalized regions and ensure they are on par with the rest of the country in terms of digital access and opportunities.
Furthermore, in another meeting with Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCCL) Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmud, the SpaceX delegation expressed keen interest in providing satellite internet service in Bangladesh.
The demonstration of Starlink's services at the meeting witnessed download speeds soaring up to 500 Mbps, leaving attendees impressed and eager for the program's implementation.
Bangladesh Computer Council Executive Director Ranjit Kumar, ICT Directorate General Director Mostafa Kamal, A2I Project Director Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Digital Connectivity Project Director Pranab Kumar Saha, and EDEG Project Policy Advisor Abdul Bari Tushar were also present during the ICT Department's meeting.
