MAHMUDUL HASAN

Elon Musk’s Starlink has received a lukewarm response in Bangladesh in the first eight months since its launch in the country, as prices up to ten times higher than local broadband fail to attract subscribers.

The satellite internet service, operated by SpaceX, attracted only 3,469 customers as of January 2026, according to data from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

Starlink received its operating licence on April 29, 2025, and officially launched on May 20, initially offering two residential packages priced at Tk 6,000 and Tk 4,200 per month.

These rates are at least ten times higher than local broadband services, which on average start at Tk 400 for 5 Mbps and can reach up to Tk 1,200 for 40 Mbps.

Bangladesh has over 13 crore internet subscribers, including 1.45 crore broadband users.

Starlink’s uptake in Bangladesh is also considerably slower than in other markets where it launched in recent years.

In Kenya, which has fewer than 3 crore internet users, Starlink has managed to gain 4,808 subscribers in eight months since its July 2023 launch, according to data from the country’s Communications Authority.

Nigeria, with over 15 crore reported internet users, recorded 23,897 Starlink subscribers roughly 11 months after launching in January 2023, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Industry insiders say Bangladesh’s dense population, widespread low-cost fibre coverage, and extensive mobile internet penetration have limited Starlink’s appeal.

Three authorised resellers -- Robi Axiata, Felicity IDC, and Bangladesh Satellite Company -- have each signed $2.5 million deals to distribute Starlink’s business and priority plans.

All three report difficulty finding customers willing to pay premium prices.

“General users are concentrated in areas with fibre coverage,” said Shah Ahmedul Kabir, general manager for sales and marketing at Bangladesh Satellite Company.

“So, we are focusing on niche markets such as hill tracts, remote char areas, maritime applications for fishing boats, and mobile connectivity on long-haul buses and trains,” he added.

Bangladesh Satellite Company has sold around 400 Starlink terminals and connected 12 schools across three hill tract districts, with plans to expand to over 150 schools.

Sharful Alam, chief executive of Felicity IDC, said enterprises view Starlink primarily as backup internet connectivity rather than a core service.

“It’s unlikely that people will abandon existing broadband services, given the significant price difference,” he said.

Felicity IDC’s Starlink packages, offering 1 TB (terabyte) to 4 TB data allowances, range from Tk 25,000 to Tk 75,000.

Starlink has built infrastructure at Hi-Tech City The