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Telecommunications regulator BTRC on Tuesday granted Starlink two separate licences to operate satellite internet services in the country for a period of ten years.
"We have issued the licences after receiving approval from the chief adviser and upon Starlink's payment of the required fees," said BTRC Chairman Md Emdad ul Bari.
One licence is given for non-geostationary satellite orbit operator and the other for radio communication operator.
The BTRC chairman said: "They will inform us how they plan to set up the local gateway and ground station with their local partners."
He further said that Starlink must also obtain tariff approval before launching the service.
Earlier Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus approved the licence for Starlink to operate in Bangladesh. As per telecom regulations, BTRC is required to obtain pre-approval from the telecom ministry before making key decisions, including granting licences.
Earlier on March on 25, the BTRC issued the "Licensing Guidelines for Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Services Operator in Bangladesh".
Under these guidelines, Starlink Services Bangladesh applied to BTRC for an NGSO Satellite Services Operator License, submitting the applicable fees and necessary documents.
After receiving the application, BTRC formed a seven-member committee to evaluate it. The committee verified all submitted documents and found them to be authentic and complete, recommending Starlink for the licence.
"This is the swiftest recommendation BTRC has ever made for such a licence," said an official of the commission.
The company's local office is registered at a building in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.
jasimharoon@yahoo.com