BrandWikiReturn

SAtel

SATel or S.A. Telecom System Limited was a private fixed-line telephone service provider in Bangladesh. It operated in the south-eastern region of the country. As of November 2009, the company had about 17,577 subscribers.[1][2][3][4]

History

To increase competition in the telecommunications sector, the government of Bangladesh began issuing PSTN licenses to private operators in the late 1990s. As a result, various regional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) operators emerged. As part of this process, SATel was established and began providing fixed-line telephone services in the south-eastern region.[5][6][7]

Operations

  • SATel mainly provided fixed-line telephone services.
  • Its operations were limited to the south-eastern region, making it smaller compared to national operators.
  • As of November 2009, the company had a total of 17.577 thousand subscribers.[8][9]

Competition

At the same time, multiple regional and national companies operated in Bangladesh's PSTN market. Notable among them were:[10]

As of February 2009, the total number of public switched telephone network (PSTN) subscribers in the country was about 1.372 million. SATel held a relatively small share in this market.[11][12]

  • Banglafone Limited
  • RanksTel
  • WorldTel Bangladesh
  • Onetel Communication Ltd.
  • International Telephone Service Limited (ISL)

Present status

Due to the rise of mobile phone usage and technological changes, the use of public switched telephone network (PSTN) services in Bangladesh declined rapidly.[13][14] By the 2020s, most private PSTN operators had shut down or become inactive. Currently, the market is mainly served by BTCL (BTCL), which provides PSTN services.[15] Reliable information about SATel's recent operations is scarce.[16]

See also

  • Telecommunications in Bangladesh

References

  1. Saifuddin. BTRC cancels 30 ISP licences Dhaka Tribune, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  2. BTRC revokes 7 PSTN licences The Business Standard, 23 January 2025, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  3. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001 Bangladesh Parliament (published in official Gazette), 16 April 2001, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  4. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission^
  5. National Broadband Policy 2024 Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), 13 March 2024, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  6. Amended Guidelines for Infrastructure Sharing Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), 14 August 2022, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  7. Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Regulation for Digital, Social Media and OTT Platforms, 2021 Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), 6 February 2022, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  8. Kazi Arshadul Hoque, Mohammad Hasan Murad, Anju Man Ara Begum. Telecommunication Regulation in Bangladesh: An overview IIUC Studies, 2014, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  9. Monzur Hossain. Digital Transformation and Economic Development in Bangladesh: Rethinking Digitalization Strategies for Leapfrogging Palgrave Macmillan, 2022^
  10. Bangladesh Telecoms Sector Challenges & Opportunities AMTOB, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  11. Bangladesh may secure Starlink internet deal within three months Reuters, 25 March 2025, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  12. Muhammad Yunus may bring reforms to Bangladesh telecoms, mobile operator says Reuters, 13 August 2024, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  13. International Long Distance Telecommunication Services (ILDTS) Policy 2010 Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), 2010, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  14. International Long Distance Telecommunication Services Policy 2007 Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), 2007, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  15. BTCL dominates PSTN service in Bangladesh SAMENA Daily News, 2023, retrieved 18 August 2025^
  16. List of Licensed Companies - BTRC Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, Government of Bangladesh, 11 December 2024, retrieved 18 August 2025^