On July 27, 2024 in the midst of nationwide student-citizen uprising, then-State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak made a claim that disastrously backfired. Referring to the ongoing internet blackout, he stated that the government did not order the shutdown and that it was brought on by burning of data centres and cables in Mohakhali. His words fell on deaf ears. The public didn't believe him. The truth, known by everyone despite the government's narrative, was that a panicked Awami League government had deliberately pulled the plug on the internet, hoping to cut off communication among protesters. They thought that without the internet, the movement would falter. According to Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumer Association (BMPCA), mobile internet was blocked for 13 days, broadband for 8 days, and social media for 15 days during that period.
This was not an isolated incident. Autocratic regimes worldwide had long used internet shutdowns as a tool to suppress dissent, often without regard for the hardships it caused. These blackouts disrupted essential services, affecting everything from financial transactions and online businesses to education and daily communication. Protesters and non-protesters alike were left desperate for an internet service that could not be so easily turned off.
But it's not just autocratic regimes that disrupt internet access. On April 19, 2024, the submarine cable SEA-ME-WE 5-the largest supplier of international bandwidth to Bangladesh-was severed between Singapore and Malaysia. The country suffered slow, and at times, completely absent internet connectivity for a month. Such outages are frequent: 95% of global data flows through undersea cables, which are prone to damage from ship anchors, fishing, or natural disasters. When these cables fail, entire nations can be left disconnected.
This is where satellite-based internet provider Starlink comes in as a lifesaver. Unlike traditional internet infrastructure which relies on physical wires, Starlink sends data via a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Elon Musk's SpaceX owns Starlink, which now provides high-speed, off-grid internet connectivity in 98 countries. Its resilience to ground-based disruptions is proven. In Ukraine, it became indispensable after Russia jammed traditional networks. Even last Sunday, Elon Musk stressed its strategic value on X, stating that without Starlink, "Ukrainian lines would collapse, as the Russians can jam all other communications." The system's resilience to manipulation makes it a promising solution for countries like Bangladesh, where internet shutdowns-whether political or technical-have become all too prevalent.
The Bangladesh government has recognized Starlink's potential and is actively working to bring the service to the country. One of the main motivations behind allowing Starlink, according to interim government press secretary Shafiqul Alam, is "to stop the business of internet shutdown forever." Several Bangladeshi firms are already collaborating with Starlink to establish ground stations, while the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has drafted guidelines to help the company start. Technical tests have proved Starlink's capacity to provide high-speed internet access even in remote places. This is a significant development for a country that has long suffered with insufficient internet infrastructure.
Starlink's potential benefits for Bangladesh are substantial. Its decentralized network is nearly impossible to fully disable, making the claim that the government wouldn't be able to shut down the internet largely true. Traditional blackouts rely on centralized control points-fibre hubs, mobile towers-but Starlink's dispersed ground stations and satellite links bypass these vulnerabilities. For Bangladesh's 650,000 freelancers, who contribute $1 billion annually to IT exports, this means uninterrupted work. Internet shutdowns often cause freelancers to lose clients permanently, and with Starlink, their livelihoods would be protected from political instability.
Beyond its ability to circumvent censorship, Starlink would provide connectivity to those living in Bangladesh's most isolated areas. In coastal places such as Bhola, communities in the Sundarbans and inaccessible mountainous locations like the Chattogram Hill Tracts where fibre is a distant dream, this technology has the potential to improve the lives of those often left behind.
The arrival of Starlink will inject much-needed competition into Bangladesh's telecommunications landscape as well. Currently, consumers often face subpar service from local ISPs and mobile network operators. Starlink's entry would force these providers to improve the quality of services or risk losing customers. This will serve to improve the nation's telecommunications infrastructure, and to drive down costs.
However, introduction of Starlink has prompted discussions about potential vulnerability of Bangladesh's communications infrastructure to foreign influence. Critics point to the company's links to US military and intelligence agencies, expressing apprehension about potential surveillance and data interception. While these concerns warrant consideration, they are, at this stage, largely speculative. If Starlink proves to be unreliable, Bangladesh can always seek alternatives. Moreover, if foreign surveillance were the goal, U.S. intelligence agencies already have access to vast amounts of data through tech giants like Facebook, Google, Apple, and Microsoft. Therefore, it is crucial to have a balanced perspective, one that recognizes potential risks without hindering the adoption of beneficial technological advancements.
Another potential concern is the cost of Starlink's service which varies considerably by region. In the US, the price for the Starlink Standard Kit is $349, with a monthly fee of $120. In Africa, prices are lower, with kits ranging from $178 in Kenya to $381 in Nigeria, and monthly fees as low as $10. While Starlink may present a higher upfront and monthly cost compared to traditional internet, its ability to connect underserved areas, or provide exceptionally reliable connections, offers practical value. It addresses the needs of those niche markets that traditional providers find economically challenging to serve.
In this day and age, dependable internet is no longer optional-it is a requirement for education, healthcare, and democracy itself. Starlink may not be a perfect solution, but it is a necessary one that provides people with a service that others cannot or will not provide.
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