BTRC Seeks Starlink Clarification on Unfiltered Bandwidth Export

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has decided to seek further clarification from Starlink Services Bangladesh Ltd. regarding its proposal to export unfiltered bandwidth from Bangladesh to neighboring countries through local Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

This decision comes before the regulator grants final permission for the plan. Starlink has applied for Commercial use of International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC) connections dedicated international data links and access to unfiltered IP transit from local operators to deliver unrestricted internet services to foreign customers.

The BTRC's main concerns and requirements center on national security and regulatory compliance: • Data Segregation: Starlink must ensure, and demonstrate a clear technical mechanism for, the complete separation of data traffic. The exported bandwidth must strictly be limited to serving Starlink's foreign customers and must not serve Bangladeshi customers or foreigners residing in Bangladesh. • Real-time Monitoring: The regulator requires a monitoring tool to be in place that allows the BTRC to independently verify this data segregation in real time. • Regulatory Conflict: The commission found that the existing Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) licence framework does not explicitly allow for commercial IPLC use or cross-border data services, necessitating a review by the Legal and Licensing Division.

Technology expert Sumon Ahmed Sabir supports Starlink's underlying intent, noting that other countries will not accept bandwidth filtered by another country. He agrees that the BTRC's conditions, aimed at preventing local content censorship bypass and ensuring data sovereignty, are legitimate. Starlink has already submitted a technical diagram, but the BTRC seeks more consultation due to the regulatory gap.

Starlink informed the BTRC that it commenced operations on August 8 and established three ground stations (gateways) in Kaliakoir (two), Jashore, and Rajshahi.

The company is sourcing 80 Gbps of bandwidth from local International Internet Gateway (IIG) operators but is currently using only 30 Gbps.

An earlier BTRC inspection on September 7 found no visible administrative or technical setup at Starlink's registered Dhaka office, which the company subsequently addressed with its operational updates and gateway information.

If approved, this arrangement could establish Bangladesh as a regional data hub, allowing local companies to earn foreign currency by supplying the bandwidth.