PTA Chairman Says Starlink Can’t Launch in Pakistan Until It Meets 4 Conditions

Starlink and other satellite internet services must meet four conditions before they can launch in Pakistan, according to Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. During a Senate committee meeting on Monday, Rehman revealed that four to five satellite internet companies have shown interest in providing services in the country.

Before a company can offer satellite internet, it must first obtain approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). Additionally, the company needs to secure a license from the Pakistan Space Regulatory Board and gain approval from the Ministry of Interior. Once these three prerequisites are met, the case will be forwarded to the PTA for further processing.

Currently, no satellite internet case is pending before the authority, as the Pakistan Space Regulatory Board is still developing the regulatory framework. Rehman stated that this framework must be finalized before satellite internet companies are granted licenses to operate in Pakistan. Rehman also disclosed that Starlink submitted a license application to the PTA in February 2022, contributing to the ongoing delay in launching satellite internet services in Pakistan.