US satellite internet provider Starlink has sought permission from Bangladesh’s telecom regulator to export bandwidth to neighbouring countries.

In a recent letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the company requested approval for the commercial use of International Private Leased Circuits (IPLC) and unfiltered IP.

IPLC provides secure cross-border data transfer, while unfiltered IP offers direct internet routes that bypass national monitoring and lawful interception.

“We have received the letter from Starlink in this regard. We are assessing it,” said Brig Gen Shafiul Azam Parvez, BTRC’s director general of engineering and operations. “The final decision will be taken if the government gives the green light.”

Starlink Services Bangladesh Ltd has already installed four local gateways — two at the hi-tech park in Gazipur, one in Rajshahi, and one in Jashore.

Regulators said local partners reported commercial traffic began flowing from August, with capacity reaching 80 Gbps in Kaliakair and 400 Gbps each in Rajshahi and Jashore.

Industry observers say the move signals Starlink’s ambition to become a regional provider linking Bangladesh with India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

Starlink, which received its Bangladesh licence in April and began operations in May, has also secured approvals in India, where rollout is expected once spectrum and infrastructure arrangements are completed.