Pakistan’s telecom regulator has urged the government to allow satellite internet providers, including Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, to operate in the country, saying the technology is essential for improving connectivity in remote and underserved areas.
Addressing the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman said satellite-based broadband is particularly needed for motorways and far-flung regions where reliable internet coverage remains a challenge.
He told the committee that the PTA has already completed its regulatory and technical assessment and forwarded its recommendations to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication for further action.
The chairman pointed to Nepal’s experience, saying the country has successfully licensed satellite internet operators, providing a model Pakistan could follow.
He added that companies such as Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper would first require registration from the Space Activities Regulatory Board before the PTA could issue operating licences.
Pakistan has been preparing a regulatory framework for satellite broadband as it seeks to extend internet access to areas beyond the reach of conventional mobile and fibre networks.
