Pakistan satellite internet licensing has been moving at a crawl for years, and in 2026 it is still not done. Five companies are seeking licences to offer satellite-based internet services in Pakistan: Starlink, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Limited (SSST), OneWeb of the Eutelsat Group, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Canadian satellite operator Telesat. All five have prepared to launch. None have been allowed to start. So what is really going on?
Pakistan Satellite Internet Licensing: A Timeline of Delays
The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB), which is responsible for overseeing licensing, has yet to clear the registration process for these companies, and the regulatory framework to govern satellite internet services also remains unfinished.
In February 2026, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) finalised the draft licensing framework for Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) and forwarded it to the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication. The IT Ministry was expected to submit the framework to the Federal Cabinet for approval, a required step before satellite internet providers can formally apply for operational licences.
Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, in a progress report submitted to parliament in late April 2026, said work on the regulatory framework was in its final phase and that the federal cabinet was expected to approve the licensing framework for fixed satellite services.
Pakistan’s satellite internet journey is one of the longest licence approval processes in the country’s telecom history. A February 2026 hold on Starlink’s approval revealed the depth of institutional resistance, after the government learned that Starlink could transmit certain data while bypassing Pakistan’s monitoring, regulatory and safety checks.
Why PSARB Keeps Stalling
The reasons for delay are more complex than simple bureaucratic slowness. Three real issues are at play: security fears, multi-agency gridlock, and geopolitics.
Security and Data Sovereignty Concerns
Officials say one of the main concerns is oversight. Existing internet services can be monitored or suspended during security situations, but authorities may face difficulties blocking satellite-based connectivity when needed. This has made regulation a key issue for policymakers.
Despite progress on the licensing framework, satellite internet rollout in Pakistan has remained stalled. Officials cited a ‘complex web of regulatory approvals’ along with unresolved security and data compliance concerns as major hurdles, and multiple government agencies are involved in the approval process.
Multi-Agency Bottlenecks
Under the existing arrangement, PSARB has been authorised by the government to frame regulations for oversight of satellite systems, while the PTA is responsible for issuing telecom service licences. But PSARB, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) all have a role. When three agencies must agree on every detail, things slow down fast.
PSARB, the FAB and the PTA are working to create a transparent, technology-neutral and investor-friendly environment for satellite operators, with the framework intended to reduce regulatory complications and establish a coordinated ecosystem. That goal sounds good on paper, but the coordination itself has become the problem.
The China-US Geopolitical Factor
There is also a geopolitical layer that rarely gets stated plainly. Chinese companies currently have stronger market penetration in Pakistan compared to US firms and are actively moving into the satellite internet sector, where Starlink is considered a direct competitor.
A foreign technology expert with knowledge of Pakistan’s satellite landscape suggested that prolonged indecision may be linked to efforts to protect state investments in domestic GEO satellite assets, saying it appears the government is protecting its GEO satellite investment rather than enabling globally proven connectivity solutions.
Industry experts point out that Pakistan has invested an estimated $400 million in two geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, but these assets did not generate meaningful commercial returns. Letting fast, cheap LEO operators in would expose just how little return those GEO satellites have delivered.
What the New Framework Actually Says
If and when the cabinet approves it, the new framework will change the rules in several ways. Under the new provisions, licensees will only require one licence to provide satellite internet services instead of the previous requirement of two separate licences. The licence fee has been reduced from $640,000 to $500,000, the licence will be valid for 15 years, and service must roll out within 18 months of licensing, including at least one Gateway Earth Station in Pakistan.
Starlink is the most technically prepared operator, holding a temporary PSARB NOC since March 2025, having registered with the SECP and Pakistan Software Export Board, and signed a retailer agreement with Paksat.
Operators must register with PSARB before they can apply to the PTA for an operational licence. This includes establishing local infrastructure and compliance with national laws and regulatory standards on data protection.
What Is at Stake for Pakistan
Observers argue that licensing delays are restricting rural broadband expansion, industrial Internet of Things (IoT) development, maritime connectivity and disaster response capabilities.
Multiple international LEO operators including Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon Kuiper and SpaceSail have indicated they are ready to provide services but have been waiting for regulatory clarity and approvals for years. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s rural areas, remote valleys and coastal regions remain cut off from reliable internet.
Industry experts have already warned that the ambition for next-generation connectivity could be undermined by policy indecision, weak long-term planning and inconsistent regulation. They note that while Pakistan presents itself as a fast-emerging digital economy, the gap between narrative and execution is resulting in critical decisions on licensing and modern connectivity models being delayed.
The Senate has also taken notice. A call-attention notice was submitted in the Senate over the prolonged delay in issuing licences for satellite-based internet services. Senator Sarmad Ali said at least five companies are awaiting final regulatory clearance, that while the PTA had reportedly completed its requirements, registration with PSARB remains pending, and he asked the minister to explain when licences would be issued.
For everyday Pakistanis, the impact is simple: faster, cheaper satellite internet that can reach a village in Balochistan or a town in Gilgit-Baltistan is sitting on a shelf waiting for a stamp. You can also read about how Pakistan’s broader Telecom Amendment Bill 2026 is being reshaped, which gives more context on the regulatory environment slowing things down.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PSARB and why does it matter for satellite internet in Pakistan?
PSARB stands for the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board. It is the body authorised to frame regulations for satellite systems. Before any company like Starlink or OneWeb can operate in Pakistan, it must first register with PSARB and then apply to the PTA for an operational licence. Until PSARB finalises its licensing regime, no operator can legally launch services.
Which companies are waiting for Pakistan satellite internet licensing approval?
According to PSARB, five companies have shown strong interest in providing satellite internet services: Starlink (SpaceX), Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Limited (SSST), OneWeb of the Eutelsat Group, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Canadian satellite operator Telesat.
Why has Pakistan satellite internet licensing taken so long?
Three main factors are at play: security concerns about the government’s ability to monitor or block satellite signals, a complex multi-agency approval process involving PSARB, PTA and FAB, and geopolitical sensitivities around Chinese versus US satellite operators competing in the same market. There are also concerns about protecting Pakistan’s existing investment in GEO satellites.
When will Starlink and other satellite internet services launch in Pakistan?
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said in April 2026 that work on the regulatory framework is in its final phase and that the federal cabinet is expected to approve the licensing framework for fixed satellite services. However, even after cabinet approval, companies will still need to complete PSARB registration, obtain a PTA licence, and build local infrastructure, which could take up to 18 more months.
