Musk hints at launching Starlinkin Pakistan

Confirmation by billionaire comes in response to social media post by Pakistani netizen

ISTANBUL:

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has confirmed on his X handle that Starlink applied to launch internet services in Pakistan in response to a request from a Pakistani netizen but was "waiting for approval from the government."

Pakistani netizen Sanam Jamali had said that Starlink internet services could "leap" Pakistan "into the future, where every citizen has the chance to connect and grow". Jamali had urged the billionaire to "let Starlink be our bridge to tomorrow".

Musk indicated on Saturday that that Starlink had already applied to the Pakistani authorities. "We are waiting for approval from the government," he said in his post. His brief reply highlighted regulatory formalities that must be addressed before Starlink could operate in Pakistan.

Later, in a second post tagging Musk, Jamali claimed that Pakistan had "approved Starlink!" adding: "Now is the perfect time to bring your transformative internet service to our nation. Millions await the connectivity, education, and opportunities Starlink could offer."

Starlink is a satellite network that provides high-speed internet to remote areas and underserved locations. Starlink satellites orbit the Earth at a low altitude, transmitting internet signals to ground stations that are connected to fibre-optic networks.

Musk's confirmation of his intention to launch Starlink in Pakistan comes at a time when the country topped the list of nations that suffered the most due to internet outages in 2024. "Please, expedite Starlink's launch," Jamali said.