BTRC issues revised guidelines for GSO satellite operators

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has issued a revised set of "Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) Satellite Operator", replacing the 2022 "Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Satellite Operator in Bangladesh" with a more specialised and compliance-oriented regulatory framework.

A review of the new guidelines shows significant changes in regulatory scope, financial and revenue-sharing structures, foreign financing rules and security compliance, alongside several structural refinements and clarifications.

The most fundamental change is a shift in regulatory focus.

While the 2022 guidelines broadly covered satellite operators without clearly distinguishing orbital categories, the new framework specifically governs geosynchronous orbit (GSO) satellite operators.

This narrows the regulatory scope and provides clearer parameters for entities operating, or seeking to operate, GSO satellites serving Bangladesh.

The updated guidelines place stronger emphasis on orbital slot coordination, frequency assignment and compliance with obligations under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), reflecting a more structured approach to international spectrum management.

The financial model has also been revised. Under the 2022 framework, operators were required to pay a fixed licence acquisition fee of Tk 250 million and an annual licence fee of Tk 50 million, in addition to revenue sharing.

The new guidelines introduce a phased gross revenue-sharing regime -- set at zero per cent for the first two years, rising to one per cent for the third to fifth years, with higher rates thereafter.

Contributions to the social obligation fund have been more clearly structured, with defined rates and timelines.

The framework further strengthens provisions on payment deadlines, VAT applicability and penalties for delayed payments, signalling a stricter enforcement approach.

The revised guidelines introduce clearer and more restrictive conditions on foreign participation and borrowing.

While foreign investors and joint ventures remain eligible, domestic borrowing by foreign-invested operators has been capped at a specified proportion of total loans, subject to prior approval from the Commission.

The licence is explicitly barred from being pledged as collateral for loans, and existing operators exceeding prescribed thresholds will be required to regularise their financial structure within a stipulated timeframe.

Security compliance provisions have been significantly expanded. Compared to the general lawful interception clauses in the earlier framework, the new guidelines set out more detailed operational requirements.

Operators must ensure connectivity of monitoring systems with relevant national monitoring authorities from the outset, maintain subscriber databases, provide access to logs and network configurations when required, and implement cybersecurity safeguards in line with government directives.

The emphasis on redundancy, monitoring capability and data transparency reflects enhanced security oversight.

The BTRC's enforcement authority has been clarified and, in some areas, expanded.

The new framework specifies additional grounds for suspension or cancellation of licences, including concealment of revenue information, non-compliance with safety standards and submission of false information.

A notable addition is a provision allowing the regulator to appoint an administrator to oversee operations during a suspension period to ensure service continuity for subscribers.

Mandatory insurance coverage for satellites and related infrastructure has also been reinforced.

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