Satellite internet Pakistan is one step closer to becoming a reality. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has formally recommended that the government licence major satellite broadband operators, including Starlink, OneWeb, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, to bring fast internet to remote regions and motorways across the country.
PTA Chairman Makes the Case at Senate Committee
The PTA’s push came during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, where PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman said satellite broadband has become essential for providing reliable internet access in underserved areas where expanding conventional telecom infrastructure is difficult and costly.
He told the committee that conventional telecom infrastructure remained insufficient in many underserved areas, and that satellite internet had become increasingly important. He stressed that licensing satellite broadband operators was now a practical requirement for improving connectivity on motorways, in mountainous regions, and in areas where laying fibre or expanding terrestrial mobile networks was either difficult or commercially unviable.
The PTA chairman said the authority has completed its technical and regulatory groundwork and submitted its recommendations to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. He also mentioned Nepal as a successful example where satellite internet services are being used to improve nationwide connectivity. Nepal is a neighbour with similar geography, steep terrain, scattered villages, and connectivity gaps, so the comparison is a practical one for Pakistan’s own challenges.
Which Companies Want to Operate in Pakistan
Five companies are currently seeking licences to offer satellite-based internet services in Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB), these companies include Starlink, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Limited (SSST), OneWeb of the Eutelsat Group, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Canadian satellite operator Telesat.
Starlink is the most technically prepared, having held a temporary PSARB NOC since March 2025, registered with the SECP and Pakistan Software Export Board, and signed a retailer agreement with Paksat. The other operators are at various stages of the same process.
All of these companies use Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. LEO satellites orbit much closer to Earth than traditional satellites, which means lower delays and faster speeds, making them useful for households and businesses in areas where fibre cables do not reach.
The Two-Step Path to a Satellite Internet Licence
One thing most people miss about satellite internet Pakistan is that getting a licence is not a one-step process. There are two separate regulators involved, and both must say yes before any company can switch on commercial service.
Satellite operators must first obtain registration from the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board. The PTA will then issue the relevant telecom licence after the registration process is completed. This means no satellite internet provider can begin commercial operations solely on the basis of a PTA application. Approval from the space regulator is required before the telecom authority can grant operating permission.
PSARB is a regulatory authority established under the National Command Authority to regulate, authorise, supervise, and monitor all space-related activities within Pakistan. It was formally constituted through the Pakistan Space Activities Rules, 2024, on February 1, 2024. You can read more about PSARB’s role and requirements directly on the official PSARB website.
The PTA’s role in the process is explained on the PTA’s official site, where it manages the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) licensing framework that will govern these new operators.
What the Licence Rules Actually Say
Under the finalised FSS framework, licences will be issued on a simplified, non-exclusive basis with a validity of 15 years. That long validity gives companies the confidence to invest in local infrastructure.
Under the new FSS framework, licensed operators must roll out services within 18 months of receiving their PTA licence. That is a firm deadline, not an open-ended commitment.
Cross-border transfer of user data is prohibited, and control of the Gateway Station must remain in Pakistan. Unauthorised internet or voice services are banned, while operators will be held responsible for avoiding frequency interference. These rules are designed to protect Pakistan’s data sovereignty, something the government has been firm about throughout the long approval process.
Also worth noting for readers hoping to subscribe: high costs remain the biggest challenge, which is why such services are currently more common for enterprise and backhaul use rather than mass consumer rollout. Expected pricing based on Starlink’s global rates at current exchange rates includes hardware (satellite dish and router) of roughly Rs 110,000 to 120,000 as a one-time cost, and a monthly subscription of roughly Rs 35,000 to 50,000, placing it firmly in the enterprise, SME, and upper-consumer segments for the first wave.
Why This Has Taken So Long
The approval process has been slow, and lawmakers have not been quiet about it. A call-attention notice was submitted in the upper house over what was described as a prolonged delay in the issuance of licences for satellite-based internet services. Senator Sarmad Ali drew the IT minister’s attention to the delay, saying it was affecting companies seeking to enter the Pakistani market. He said around five companies were awaiting final regulatory clearance and that PTA had almost completed the requirements, but registration with PSARB had remained pending for several months.
The government had concerns that Starlink could transmit certain data while bypassing Pakistan’s monitoring, regulatory, and safety checks. Officials feared they would not have similar control over satellite-based internet data and that foreign companies might be involved in data theft. The new rules on gateway control and data localisation are directly aimed at resolving those concerns.
For readers interested in what PTA has been doing on other fronts, the regulator has also been working to reduce costs elsewhere in the telecom sector, including a move to halve eSIM prices in Pakistan.
What This Means for Pakistan
Pakistan has approximately 100 million unbanked adults and an estimated 60 to 70 million people in areas where terrestrial broadband either does not reach or delivers below 1 Mbps. Satellite internet will not fix all of that on day one, but it can meaningfully extend coverage to valleys, border areas, and stretches of motorway where no signal exists today.
The PTA chairman said satellite connectivity could complement, rather than replace, existing mobile and fibre networks. Such services could be particularly useful in regions affected by weak coverage, difficult terrain, power constraints, or limited commercial investment by traditional operators.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Starlink be available in Pakistan?
Licensed operators must roll out services within 18 months of receiving their PTA licence. For Starlink, the furthest along in preparations, commercial service is possible before the end of 2026 in the best-case scenario, with rural and remote areas likely to be the first deployment priority.
What is PSARB and why does it matter for satellite internet Pakistan?
PSARB is the regulatory authority established under the National Command Authority to regulate, authorise, supervise, and monitor all space-related activities within Pakistan. Any satellite internet company must register with PSARB before PTA can issue it a telecom licence. Without PSARB registration, no commercial satellite internet service can start.
Will satellite internet be affordable for ordinary Pakistanis?
In the short term, probably not for most households. Equipment costs alone are expected to be over Rs 100,000, with monthly fees in the Rs 35,000 to 50,000 range based on current global pricing. These costs may fall as competition grows and more providers enter the market, but the first phase will likely serve businesses, schools, hospitals, and government sites in remote areas more than individual home users.
Which other companies besides Starlink are interested in Pakistan?
According to PSARB, the interested companies include Starlink, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Limited (SSST), OneWeb of the Eutelsat Group, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Canadian satellite operator Telesat. Each must complete its own PSARB and PTA registration process before it can serve Pakistani customers.
