A Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom meeting, chaired by Palwasha Khan, focused heavily on the emerging issue of satellite internet services, including Starlink, amid concerns over Pakistan’s lack of a clear regulatory and launch timeline.
Lawmakers questioned whether satellite-based internet providers like Starlink could already be operating in parts of the country without a fully defined policy framework. Senator Afnan Ullah Khan raised concerns about possible unregulated usage in sensitive regions, including Balochistan, and called attention to gaps in monitoring.
The IT Secretary said there is no confirmed evidence of Starlink operating in Balochistan, adding that Pakistan is still developing its broader satellite and space technology ecosystem.
PTA Chairman Hafeez ur Rehman clarified that any satellite internet operator must first register with the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) before applying for a licence. He stressed that no company can legally offer satellite internet services in Pakistan without completing the required approvals.
The committee noted that despite discussions and ongoing policy work, the government has not yet set a clear or practical timeline for the introduction or regulation of Starlink-style satellite internet services in Pakistan, leaving the sector in a state of uncertainty.
Alongside this, the committee reviewed long-delayed telecom competition rules, originally drafted in 2009. PTA officials said the rules have been repeatedly sent to the Ministry of IT over the years, including multiple reminders up to 2022, but remain unfinalised. Lawmakers directed that the process be completed within one month.
The meeting also discussed wider telecom challenges, including poor mobile coverage in areas like Lakki Marwat, infrastructure constraints on highways, and operational issues linked to fuel shortages for telecom towers.
Officials acknowledged that rising diesel and electricity costs are affecting service quality, while disputes involving Long Distance and International (LDI) operators worth Rs2.2 billion remain pending in courts until a telecom tribunal is formed.
The IT Secretary added that Pakistan’s telecom sector continues to face structural pressures, including low revenue per user and high operating costs, which are limiting investment and network expansion.
