Access to high-speed internet is a must for any country to prosper in the 21st century. Bangladesh, in its journey towards digitalisation, has made a breakthrough, allowing Starlink, the world’s first and largest satellite constellation, to provide its services nationwide. This has opened the doors to numerous opportunities, from widespread internet use to lower costs for Bangladesh’s internet providers.
How it works
As an offshoot company under SpaceX, Starlink has the capabilities to provide high-speed internet using the services of thousands of satellites orbiting Earth. The speciality is that these satellites orbit much closer than every other satellite at about 550 km. That is why Starlink has the ability to transmit signals at very low latencies compared to other satellites.
Starlink typically sets up its own gateway stations that receive services from the satellite and transmit them to localities via optical fibres. Although in many countries, Starlink works with local ISPs or internet service providers for distribution also. In countries like Bangladesh, Starlink could partner with local ISPs to integrate satellite internet with existing broadband networks. This integration could be especially beneficial in rural or underserved areas where traditional cable internet isn’t feasible. For urban areas, Starlink can offer an alternative to cable-based internet, complementing the offerings of local ISPs.
This means the cable-based internet services, which were highly challenging for remote locations without cell phone towers and on non-uniform terrains, will no longer be needed. This also opens up the possibility of getting more internet speed without changing the standard infrastructure. Starlink is able to transmit up to 100 Mbps speed through its satellites and gateways. That will surely be a significant boost for personal internet use, and Bangladesh could see many opportunities opening up that may have eluded its economy due to the lack of infrastructure.
Opportunities
The demand for Starlink among Bangladeshis increased after the July uprising. The authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina used the state’s influence to stop internet access that not only damaged the right to receive information, but also stalled critical services such as banking and healthcare. It is common for any authoritarian ruler to shut off access to information and media, but Starlink, as an independent company, will not be subject to such restrictions of controls.
If Starlink opens up services for individual customers even through ISPs, no amount of interference can influence Starlink to shut down its services. Even shutting off electricity will not deter its satellites and gateway receivers from exchanging signals. Therefore, it may very well be possible for the citizens of Bangladesh to perform their day-to-day tasks without the threat of the internet shutting down.
Challenges
Significant backlash and lobbying are to be expected of mobile data providers, as Starlink may prove to be a direct threat. High-speed broadband will no longer be an issue at the same amount of cost, which means the traditional models of data costs are to be proven obsolete when Starlink starts its operations in Bangladesh.
The mobile data providers therefore have to make a competitive decision to either lower their prices or lobby for limited zoning of Starlink internet through ISPs. The opposing business interests, along with other subsequent political turmoil, may prove a challenge for Starlink’s widespread use.
Other than the risk of alternate political or state decisions in the future, Starlink’s arrival for Bangladesh is a monumental step for the universal access of high-speed internet. The right to which is now considered a fundamental human right in the twenty-first century.