Government Aims for Full Digitalization of Services

Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) is seeking a partnership with Starlink to launch satellite internet services in Bangladesh. BSCL has proposed hosting Starlink's gateway at its Gazipur and Betbunia stations, leveraging its infrastructure, including secure facilities and 99.99% uptime.

Bangladesh's internet penetration rate has been declining for the past several months, dropping from 80.60% in August 2024 to 74.40% in January 2025. The decline is driven by a decrease in mobile broadband users, which fell from 98.93 million in November to 96.97 million in January.

Several Bangladeshi firms have partnered with Starlink to facilitate the setup of ground earth stations in the country, signing contracts with the US-based telecommunications provider. The collaboration involves space allocation, construction support, and infrastructure maintenance. Some firms are offering their own properties, while others are considering Hi-Tech Park locations.

Bangabandhu Satellite-I may experience temporary broadcast disruptions from March 7 to March 13 due to a solar outage, according to the Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited. These outages, known as solar satellite interference, occur when the sun aligns directly behind the satellite, affecting signal transmission.

Twenty-nine international internet gateway (IIG) operators in Bangladesh owe the BTRC Tk 205 crore, with top five defaulters accounting for 77% of the outstanding sum. BTCL has the highest dues at Tk 51.58 crore, followed by Earth Telecom (Tk 32.02 crore) and Aamra Technologies (Tk 25.48 crore).

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh recently terminated the Bangladesh Computer Council's (BCC) access to the national ID database, disrupting businesses reliant on identity verification services provided by Digicon Global Services via its API platform, Porichoy.