Starlink’s planned rollout in Pakistan remains stalled, with its registration process at the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Board (PSARB) still incomplete, holding back its bid for a licence from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The PTA chairman briefed the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on the status of Starlink’s launch, telling members that four to five satellite internet companies were currently interested in entering the Pakistani market. Committee members asked at what stage these companies’ launch processes stood and whether a regulatory framework existed to allow satellite internet operators to begin services.
The PTA chairman said PSARB was developing the regulatory framework for satellite-based services, and that satellite internet companies would need to meet prescribed requirements before licences could be issued. In its written reply to the committee, the PTA said the Pakistan Space Activities Rules-2024 set out several requirements for satellite-based licensing: registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), registration with PSARB, fulfilment of national security requirements, and satellite licensing by the PTA.
The PTA confirmed that Starlink has already registered with SECP under the name Starlink Internet Services Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., a holding company of the Netherlands-based Starlink B.V. (SpaceX). However, its PSARB registration remains pending. “Starlink shall apply for FSS (Fixed Satellite Service) licence after the requisite registration has been completed with PSARB,” the PTA stated. As a result, Starlink cannot proceed to the final licensing stage with the PTA until its PSARB registration is completed.
The committee was told that rising interest from satellite internet companies reflects growing demand for satellite-based connectivity in Pakistan, particularly in areas where conventional broadband infrastructure remains limited. The PTA chairman said several companies were interested in offering services in the country, but their operations would need to comply with the regulatory and national security requirements set out under the applicable framework.
Committee members sought clarity on the timeline for completing the regulatory process and asked the PTA to detail the status of other prospective satellite internet operators. The PTA reiterated that satellite-based licensing is governed by the framework laid out in the Pakistan Space Activities Rules-2024, and that PSARB registration is a prerequisite before any company can apply for a PTA licence.
The delay in Starlink’s launch comes as Pakistan works to expand broadband connectivity and introduce alternative technologies to extend internet access to underserved and remote areas. The committee directed the relevant authorities to provide an updated position on the regulatory framework and on the progress of satellite internet companies seeking to launch services in the country.
