Starlink, the US-based satellite internet service provider, has formally requested permission from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to export bandwidth from Bangladesh to neighboring countries.

In a recent letter submitted to the regulator, Starlink sought approval to commercially use International Private Leased Circuits (IPLC) and unfiltered IP routes to provide services outside Bangladesh. IPLC enables secure, high-capacity communication lines between countries, while unfiltered IP refers to direct internet routes that bypass national filters and lawful interception.

Brigadier General Shafiul Azam Parvez, Director General of Engineering and Operations at BTRC, confirmed the receipt of the request and stated that the commission is currently assessing it. “The final decision will depend on government approval,” he added.

Starlink Services Bangladesh Ltd has already installed four local gateways across the country — two at the hi-tech park in Gazipur’s Kaliakair area, and one each in Rajshahi and Jashore. Although BTRC inspectors could not confirm full functionality due to the absence of Starlink representatives during site visits, local partners reported that commercial traffic began flowing from early August.

The company has developed substantial bandwidth capacities at these locations: 80 Gbps at Kaliakair, and 400 Gbps each at Rajshahi and Jashore.

Industry experts view Starlink’s move as a strategic effort to establish itself as a regional bandwidth provider, potentially connecting Bangladesh with India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

Starlink received its operating license in Bangladesh in April 2025 and commenced services in May. The company has also secured regulatory clearances in India and plans to launch services there shortly. Meanwhile, Starlink has submitted proposals to operate in Nepal, launched services in Bhutan, and, despite a ban in Myanmar, its devices are reportedly being smuggled into blackout zones.

Bangladesh currently consumes about 8,500 Gbps of bandwidth, with nearly half supplied through undersea cables by Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company PLC, and the remainder coming from India via landlines. The country exports approximately 10 Gbps of bandwidth to northeast India through state-run companies.