A business agreement has been finalized between BSCL (Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited) and Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet subsidy. This deal, forged on July 11, will see BSCL, a state-authorized satellite provider, re-offering Starlink’s satellite internet solutions with a primary focus on the corporate sector.
The collaboration entails a $2.5 million investment in Starlink’s terminals and data packages by BSCL, equivalent to approximately Tk 29.25 crore. The hardware component, primarily user terminals, will engross $1.1 million of the total investment, while the remainder is allocated to cover data expenses.
A unique financial arrangement of the deal involves the dispersal of funds to Starlink in installments as opposed to a one-time payment. This expenditure, though entirely dedicated to Starlink services, will not be entrusted to the American enterprise in one lump sum.
The transaction dynamics within the deal involves Starlink’s subsidiary in Bangladesh, termed Starlink Bangladesh. This local subentity will take the responsibility to import the necessary terminals, which will subsequently be purchased by local resellers like BSCL, all transactions being facilitated through Bangladeshi currency.
Under the reselling agreement with Starlink, resellers qualify for a 15% discount on the purchased hardware and 5% discount on service charges. Moreover, resellers are granted entry to Starlink’s reseller portal and Application Programming Interface (API), essential tools for managing their clients and associated services.
The free rein granted to resellers to establish their pricing plans, bill their customers directly, and roll out value-added services, such as technical support and installation, acts as further attractiveness to the deal.
The scope of prospective customers extends over a multitude of sectors, including hospitals, banks, construction, data centres, offshore installations, the aviation and maritime industry, energy, media, and manufacturing units.
While Starlink primarily targets individual clientele worldwide, corporate and government clients are handled through resellers. In the context of Bangladesh, BSCL alongside other local agencies are posed to serve both the enterprise and the domestic markets.
For BSCL, this reselling agreement signifies a strategic shift. This entity, primarily known for its Bangabandhu Satellite-1, has been grappling to secure substantial commercial gains since its launch in 2018.
In the company’s endeavour to diversify its service portfolio and establish its presence in the burgeoning market for rapid internet in remote areas of the nation, the alliance formed with Starlink could play a crucial role.
Government representatives have welcomed Starlink’s foray into Bangladesh with considerable zeal, viewing it as a marked leap in enhancing the nation’s digital connectivity.
To speed up Starlink’s commencement in the country, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has permitted Starlink a 90-day waiver for functioning without needing to set up a local server. This exemption is expected to end in early August.
To foster Starlink’s seamless launch in the region, partnerships with various Bangladeshi firms have been established for infrastructural aid. One such local collaborator that stands out is Fibre@Home with its associated companies.
Fibre@Home and its associated companies are spearheading the development of Starlink’s inaugural ground station at the Hi-Tech City in Kaliakair, Gazipur, and intend to launch more in Jashore and Cox’s Bazar.
In terms of data hosting, Felicity IDC Limited, a Tier III data centre located within the Kaliakair park, will be hosting Starlink’s servers.
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