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DHAKA, May 20, 2026 (BSS) - The government has granted Banglalink permission to conduct trial of satellite-based Direct-to-Cell (D2C) mobile service in areas without conventional cellular network coverage, marking Bangladesh's entry into the emerging global satellite-to-mobile connectivity landscape. 

The approval was given by the Posts and Telecommunications Division following a proposal from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), according to an official order on May 12. 

It said the permission has been granted for a two-month Proof of Concept (PoC) operation for from the date of approval.

The experimental service will be conducted by Banglalink in collaboration with Starlink, the satellite internet network operated by US-based SpaceX, under a non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) framework aimed at extending mobile connectivity to uncovered and remote areas. 

Confirming the permission, Banglalink Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer Taimur Rahman today told BSS that the Starlink-backed testing would continue throughout June. 

"Banglalink is set to D2C connectivity for the first time in Bangladesh to help reduce coverage gaps in hard-to-reach areas, including hill tracts, chars, coastal islands, and offshore waters," he said. 

He added, "By complementing our nationwide network with satellite connectivity, we aim to strengthen communication for underserved communities and support connectivity during emergencies and natural disasters." 

He continued "Once commercially launched, the service is expected to provide coverage across Bangladesh, including up to 22 nautical miles into the Bay of Bengal, helping deep-sea fishermen stay connected beyond coastal cellular coverage areas." 

Initially, the service will support OTT-based messaging services through satellite connectivity, revealed Taimur. 

According to the government order, the approval would be treated solely as permission for experimental service and could not be considered as approval or assurance for any future commercial operation. 

The order said BTRC would submit a detailed report to the Posts and Telecommunications Division within three months after reviewing all technical, operational and regulatory aspects of the trial. 

Under the approval conditions, BTRC will ensure online and offline monitoring facilities during the PoC period, including oversight of traffic, signalling, authentication and spectrum usage through collection of necessary information from Banglalink. 

The order said the D2C facility would remain a supplementary service under Banglalink's mobile operator framework during the trial period, while all operational liabilities related to the service would rest with the operator under BTRC supervision. 

As part of the temporary arrangement, spectrum allocated to Banglalink in the 1920-1925 MHz and 2110-2115 MHz bands will be allowed for limited use in Starlink's network during the PoC period on special consideration. 

The order clarified that the approval would not create any precedent regarding spectrum ownership, transfer or sharing in future and would automatically expire after completion of the trial. 

A temporary PLMN code, code is a unique identification code used to identify a mobile network operator within a country, will also be assigned to Banglalink for limited use during the PoC period, which will automatically stand cancelled after the trial ends. 

The order further stipulated that the service must remain fully compliant with the country's lawful interception framework and ensure technical capability to provide information sought by law enforcement agencies. 

Before launching the PoC service, a detailed agreement between Banglalink and Starlink must be submitted to BTRC for approval, the order added. 

According to the conditions, the D2C service will function only in locations where no terrestrial cellular mobile network coverage exists, while customers must automatically reconnect to conventional cellular networks once standard coverage becomes available. 

The order also said all necessary conditions related to national network structure, interconnection and national security would remain applicable during the trial period under close BTRC supervision. 

The Bangladesh initiative comes amid growing global momentum in satellite-to-mobile or Direct-to-Cell technology as telecom operators and satellite companies increasingly seek to extend connectivity to remote, maritime, disaster-prone and geographically challenging areas where terrestrial telecom infrastructure remains limited. 

Globally, Starlink and telecom operators in countries including the United States, Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand have been conducting pilot projects and strategic partnerships involving satellite-enabled mobile communication services for emergency communication, remote-area connectivity and maritime coverage. 

Bangladesh is set to become the third VEON market to introduce the technology after Ukraine and Kazakhstan. VEON said more than five million unique users in Ukraine have connected to Starlink Mobile satellites since the service rollout there in November 2025, while Kazakhstan conducted successful testing in December 2025, including what was described as Central Asia's first WhatsApp call using Starlink satellite connectivity. 

Industry analysts say the technology is emerging as a complementary layer to traditional terrestrial telecom networks rather than a replacement, particularly for underserved and hard-to-reach regions. 

Bangladesh's move is also considered significant for coastal connectivity and disaster resilience because of the country's large coastal belt and dependence on maritime activities in the Bay of Bengal.