Starlink delegation discusses license issue with IT Minister
A delegation from Starlink, the
leading global provider of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet services
owned by Elon Musk, met with the Minister of State for Information Technology
and Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, on Tuesday to review the progress on
licensing the satellite-based internet provider in Pakistan, according to a
recent report.
The government aims to bridge the
digital divide by expanding internet access to unconnected areas through
satellite-based solutions.
Starlink has already registered with
the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), but the government
is still working on finalizing a regulatory framework for LEO satellite landing
rights.
The latest development comes after
Elon Musk’s announcement on the social media platform X, where he mentioned
that Starlink is awaiting regulatory approval to begin operations in Pakistan.
A key step for Starlink is obtaining
regulatory clearance from the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board,
followed by an operational license from the Pakistan Telecommunication
Authority (PTA).
Read More Starlink
waits for approval to enter into Pakistan
Currently, Pakistan’s internet
infrastructure relies on 13 high-orbit satellites, with four of them providing
communication services to TV channels licensed by the Pakistan Electronic Media
Regulatory Authority (Pemra).
Last year, frequent internet
slowdowns and throttling—especially for IT companies with international
clients—prompted many to adopt Starlink connections.
Shaza Fatima also chaired a meeting
focused on developing a regulatory framework for LEO satellite operations in
Pakistan. The meeting reviewed progress on hiring consultants to draft the
regulations, with the process expected to conclude within weeks.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites
operate at altitudes between 300 and 500 kilometers, much closer than
geosynchronous orbit (GSO) satellites at 3,600 kilometers. This proximity
enables direct internet service to individual and commercial users.
The minister emphasized the
importance of aligning Pakistan’s satellite technology policies with global
standards to maximize the benefits of these advancements for national
development.
In a related development, Pakistan
is set to benefit from the 2Africa Submarine Cable System, which aims to
significantly boost internet speed and reliability. Facilitated by the Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) through Transworld Associates as the landing
party, this global initiative involves key players like Meta and Vodafone.
Read More Pakistan
launches satellite-based broadband, challenging Elon Musk's starlink
The 45,000-kilometer cable, equipped
with state-of-the-art SDM1 technology and a capacity of 180 Tbps, will connect
46 locations across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Installation began on
December 1, 2024, at Hawksbay, Karachi, with deep-sea laying set to start in
April 2025.
Once operational in Q4 2025, this
system will provide Pakistan with 24 terabytes of bandwidth, significantly
improving the performance of platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
Currently, the country relies on around 8 terabytes of bandwidth from seven
existing cables.
Pakistan, facing slow internet
speeds and frequent disruptions, ranks 100th out of 111 countries in mobile
internet speeds and 141st out of 158 in broadband speeds, according to Ookla’s
Speedtest Global Index. Mobile download speeds average 20.61 Mbps, while
broadband speeds average 15.60 Mbps.
Source: Profit Pakistan