Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, is moving closer to establishing its presence in Pakistan. The company has officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) under the name “Starlink Internet Services (Private) Limited” and is actively pursuing the necessary regulatory approvals to operate in the country.
In a written response to the Senate Standing Committee, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) revealed that Starlink has applied to set up 2-3 ground stations in Pakistan as part of its plan to provide internet services directly to consumers via its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The company has also submitted applications for the required licenses to operate within the country.
Starlink applied for a Long-Distance International (LDI) license on February 24, 2022, and 14 Local Loop licenses on April 29, 2022. The PTA forwarded the case to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MOITT) in March 2022 for consultation with relevant stakeholders. The Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) has confirmed that Starlink’s satellite constellation operates globally without causing harmful interference to terrestrial networks.
The regulatory framework for satellite-based telecommunication services in Pakistan is governed by the National Satellite Policy 2023 and the Pakistan Space Activities Rules 2024. The National Satellite Policy, approved in December 2023, mandates federal and provincial agencies to work under the guidance of the National Space Agency (SUPARCO) to implement satellite-related initiatives. Additionally, the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) oversees the registration of satellite service providers like Starlink and issues the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) required for licensing.
Under the PSARB’s regulations, all satellite service providers must comply with local and international laws as outlined in the National Communications Authority Rules of 2024. Existing geostationary satellite service providers can continue operations under current agreements but will eventually need to transition to national or registered satellites once these agreements expire, as per Rule 35.
Starlink’s application to establish ground stations is currently under review by the PSARB, which is conducting a technical evaluation of its Earth Gateway Stations and assessing the compatibility of Starlink’s satellite network with Pakistan’s existing infrastructure. Once this process is complete, the PTA will issue the necessary licenses for Starlink’s internet services, provided all regulatory requirements are met.
The PTA noted that while satellite-based telecommunication services can be offered by any licensed operator in Pakistan, direct-to-consumer services are not yet available. Currently, operators like PTCL provide bandwidth for point-to-point traffic transportation.
