The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) in Pakistan has confirmed that Starlink, a well-known satellite internet provider, has not yet received the license needed to operate in the country.
In a statement to the National Assembly of Pakistan, the ministry explained that the license has been delayed because Starlink has not met the government’s technical and regulatory requirements. One of the main concerns is the risk of interference between Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) and Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) systems.
Official documents show that Starlink and other satellite broadband companies are trying hard to start their services in Pakistan. However, none of them have fulfilled the licensing requirements needed to launch their services commercially.
Starlink, which is owned by SpaceX, has been actively working to start its services in Pakistan. The company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in December 2021 under the name “Starlink Internet Services Pakistan (Private) Ltd.” It applied for a Long Distance and International (LDI) license with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in February 2022.
Despite the excitement about Starlink’s potential launch, the Ministry made it clear that no satellite internet provider, including Starlink, has fully met the necessary licensing conditions for a commercial launch.
The Ministry also noted that Starlink isn’t the only satellite internet provider interested in Pakistan. Other international satellite operators from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) have also shown interest in operating in the country. However, all these companies must first comply with the technical, regulatory, and security standards set by various national bodies, such as the PTA and the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB).
The delay in Starlink’s license approval is due to detailed reviews by multiple stakeholders, including the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) and the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). These agencies have raised several concerns regarding Starlink’s technical, regulatory, financial, and commercial plans.
Even though there have been discussions with Starlink, the company has not yet fully addressed these concerns, which has prolonged the licensing process.
Pakistan’s National Space Policy was approved by the government in December 2023, followed by the Pakistan Space Activity Rules (PSARB) in February 2024. These rules are being followed by Starlink and are required for any other NGSO/LEO operators who want to start operations in Pakistan.
Besides the technical and regulatory challenges, MoIT&T pointed out that the process was more complicated because Starlink’s application was the first of its kind in Pakistan. There was no clear registration and regulatory system in place before the approval of Pakistan’s National Space Policy in December 2023 and the PSARB in February 2024. Now, Starlink must comply with these new rules as it continues to seek the necessary approvals to launch its services in Pakistan.
