SAtel
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | Late 1990s |
| Defunct | 2020s (approximate) |
| Fate | Inactive |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | South-eastern Bangladesh |
| Services | Fixed-line telephone |
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]
- Banglafone Limited
- RanksTel
- WorldTel Bangladesh
- Onetel Communication Ltd.
- International Telephone Service Limited (ISL)
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]
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
References
- ^ Saifuddin. "BTRC cancels 30 ISP licences". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "BTRC revokes 7 PSTN licences". The Business Standard. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "The Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001" (PDF). Bangladesh Parliament (published in official Gazette). 16 April 2001. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Archived 2010-07-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "National Broadband Policy 2024" (PDF). Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). 13 March 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Amended Guidelines for Infrastructure Sharing" (PDF). Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). 14 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Regulation for Digital, Social Media and OTT Platforms, 2021" (PDF). Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). 6 February 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ Anju Man Ara Begum (2014). "Telecommunication Regulation in Bangladesh: An overview". ResearchGate (peer-reviewed). Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ Hossain, Monzur (2022). "ICT Policy, Regulations, and Institutions". Digital Transformation and Economic Development in Bangladesh: Rethinking Digitalization Strategies for Leapfrogging. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-981-19-2753-9.
- ^ "Bangladesh Telecoms Sector Challenges & Opportunities" (PDF). AMTOB. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Bangladesh may secure Starlink internet deal within three months". Reuters. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Muhammad Yunus may bring reforms to Bangladesh telecoms, mobile operator says". Reuters. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "International Long Distance Telecommunication Services (ILDTS) Policy 2010" (PDF). Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "International Long Distance Telecommunication Services Policy 2007" (PDF). Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "BTCL dominates PSTN service in Bangladesh". SAMENA Daily News. 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "List of Licensed Companies - BTRC" (PDF). Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. Government of Bangladesh. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2025.