Satellite-based internet service Starlink officially launched in Bangladesh on May 20th. This will provide high-speed internet access even in the remote areas of the country. Naturally, there are many questions among the public about this new service. Some answers have been found, and an attempt is made to provide some here. In particular, many have expressed surprise at the device delivery charges when ordering.

Two Packages, How Much Do They Cost

Initially, Starlink launched with two packages: Residence and Residence Lite. One is slightly more expensive than the other. The Residence Lite package is available for Tk 4,200 per month, and the Residence package for Tk 6,000 per month. Apart from this, there will be a one-time cost of Tk 47,000 for the device, irrespective of the packages.

Another series called 'Roam' for frequent travellers was seen on Starlink's website alongside the 'Residence' series. The Residence series does not allow for changing the device's location. However, the Roam series will not have that restriction. But the government has not approved the Roam series yet.

How to Order

First, go to the Starlink website and select either the Residence or Residence Lite package, then click the 'Order Now' button and select your location. Select 'Checkout', provide the necessary information in the next step, and make the payment. Then, click the 'Place Order' button. Now, it's a waiting game; it may take about a month for the device to arrive.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor, said that although it is currently only possible to buy directly from Starlink's website, Starlink devices will be available locally through local distributors in the future. At a press briefing on May 20th, he said, "They (Starlink) will appoint distributors in Bangladesh as they see fit. We have not created any obstacles or influence there. So far, we have not lobbied for anyone. They have appointed distributors on their own. However, to increase the revenue of Bangladesh Satellite Company, since it is a government institution, we have informally requested them to include Bangladesh Satellite Company in the distributor list, and yesterday they confirmed that they will keep Bangladesh Satellite Company as a local distributor."

For those who have expressed surprise at the cost of Starlink device delivery, a solution may be found soon.

What is the Speed?

The biggest advantage of Starlink is that it can be used from anywhere in the country as it connects directly to satellites. High-speed internet service will be available in urban areas as well as in villages or remote regions. More importantly, there will be no limit on data usage. Unlimited internet can be used on Starlink at a maximum speed of 300 Mbps.

How Does it Work?

Starlink has created a network of a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit. Currently, the company has more than seven thousand such satellites. These satellites are constantly orbiting the Earth. Starlink's receiver device connects directly to one of these satellites to get an internet connection. That is why the device needs to be placed under an open sky without any obstruction. This device provides an internet connection to the router, and the router provides it to the user's device.

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