Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ Top officials from SpaceX are scheduled to meet with the ICT Division of the government to finalize a deal with Starlink, Elon Musk’s spacecraft manufacturing company, offering global satellite internet service. According to reports, Joel Meredith, the manager for global government affairs at SpaceX, and Parnil Urdhwareshe, the manager for global licensing and activation, have already arrived at the ICT Division for the meeting.
The agenda for the meeting entails signing a memorandum of understanding between SpaceX and the ICT Division, with a focus on fostering long-term collaboration for space technology development and enhancing the technological capabilities of Bangladesh’s youth in related fields. The meeting is expected to be attended by the State Minister for ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak. Key discussions with the SpaceX officials will revolve around the potential benefits of Starlink for internet connectivity in hard-to-reach areas and disaster-prone regions, the feasibility of a nationwide project to deploy Starlink in Bangladesh, and whether there will be special pricing to align with the government’s cost standards per MB or GB.
The ICT Division officials will also inquire about SpaceX’s business plans in Bangladesh, their investment plans, the possibility of local equipment manufacturing, and potential investments in hi-tech parks. Moreover, they plan to extend an invitation to Elon Musk for a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New York in September, or alternatively, arrange for him to visit Bangladesh for a similar meeting, or conduct a virtual meeting with the PM. The host side will also express interest in having Tesla consider opening factories in Bangladesh.
Elon Musk, a billionaire businessman, is renowned for his affiliation with several innovative technologies. Starlink is one of his less well-known tech projects, but it has the same potential for disruption as his other endeavors. Elon Musk founded Starlink, a satellite internet service provider, with the aim of giving practically everyone in the world access to high-speed internet using an expanding network of private satellites that circle the Earth at a lower orbit.
