Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima, announced that SpaceX’s Starlink internet services are expected to launch in Pakistan by November or December this year.
This statement was made during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, chaired by MNA Aminul Haque, where the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) updated the committee on the Starlink licensing process.
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The PTA Chairman confirmed that Starlink has been granted a temporary license by the Space Board, and a full operational license will be issued once the regulatory frameworks are completed.
Minister Fatima assured that there were no issues with the licensing process and explained that satellite internet technology requires thorough evaluation. She added that a consultant has been hired to finalize the regulations, after which Starlink will need to reapply.
Additionally, the minister disclosed that a Chinese company, Shanghai Spacecom, has also applied to provide satellite internet services in Pakistan. “We aim to encourage competition by opening the space internet sector to multiple players,” she said.
Fatima confirmed that infrastructure installation is already in progress, and Starlink services are expected to launch in the last quarter of 2025.
