Internet services in Pakistan are expected to improve by October, PTA Chairman Hafizur Rehman told senators on Monday as lawmakers raised concerns over poor connectivity and frequent service disruptions.

The matter came under discussion during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan.

The committee members highlighted internet problems in Lahore and other parts of the country. The chairperson also said signals had been unavailable in Lahore during a recent disruption linked to a power outage.

Senator Kamran Murtaza asked the PTA whether the ongoing merger of Ufone and Telenor Pakistan was contributing to the deterioration in telecom services.

Hafizur Rehman said work on the merger was continuing and that the rollout of 5G services was also underway. He told the committee that internet connectivity was expected to improve nationwide by October.

The committee also reviewed the delay in launching satellite-based internet services in Pakistan, including Starlink.

The PTA chairman said prospective satellite internet operators would need to complete several regulatory requirements before obtaining approval. These include registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, licensing from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, and security clearance from the Ministry of Interior.

After completing these requirements, companies would approach the PTA for the final regulatory process.

He said the regulatory framework for satellite internet was still being developed and that no application was currently pending with the PTA. Starlink, however, had first approached the authority for a license in February 2022.

According to the chairman, four to five satellite internet companies have shown interest in entering the Pakistani market, but licenses cannot be issued until the new regulatory framework is approved.