Experts seek satellite internet rules

Ask govt to come up with supportive policies to attract service providers

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KARACHI:

Businessmen and experts have lauded the government's efforts to facilitate a famous brand of satellite internet service, which is launching its operations in Pakistan, and expressed optimism about an alternative internet option to fix connectivity issues for users and boost the rural economy.

They said that the satellite internet service could be a great catalyst for uplifting various industries, including education, defence, healthcare, banking, agriculture, aquaculture, oil and gas, mining and natural resource exploration.

At present, the federal government is working to introduce a satellite internet service in the country to foster businesses and individuals.

Authorities have been in talks with Starlink, a satellite internet service company of SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk. Satellite internet services are accessible in remote rural areas, deserts, mountains and oceans, mainly filling the gap wherein terrestrial infrastructure, like cell towers or fibre optic cables, is unavailable.

Experts urged the government to develop supportive policies and regulations to attract satellite internet providers with healthy competition among all players in the internet connectivity business. They asked the government and stakeholders to prepare themselves for satellite internet utility in different sectors for reaping its benefits and economic dividends.

Pakistani-origin American businessman Anosh Ahmed said that satellite internet could greatly benefit Pakistan by bringing high-speed connectivity to small cities and far-flung areas where broadband services were limited.

It would empower small villages with reliable internet access, enabling them to work, learn and educate as well as participate in the global economy, he said.

In countries like the US, satellite internet enables users in rural and remote locations to access reliable internet speeds comparable to urban areas, Ahmed said while citing an example.

This enhanced connectivity supports remote work, online education, and telemedicine, bridging the digital divide. For instance, satellite internet has helped reduce the number of Americans without broadband access, which was over 14 million in rural areas according to past reports.

By improving connectivity, satellite internet can stimulate the rural economy through enhanced access to markets, online education and digital services in Pakistan. With around 63% of Pakistan's population living in rural areas, according to the World Bank, this service could significantly contribute to socio-economic development, he added. Satellite internet services like Starlink could attract both foreign and local investment by providing reliable connectivity in resource-rich regions such as Balochistan and the northern areas. It will help foreign and local companies to expand their operations in industries like mining, energy and tourism, and operate efficiently and securely, Ahmed said.

Satellite internet could enhance the outreach of the banking sector, helping the country to achieve a significant level of financial inclusion and maximise digitisation of the economy, he said. The country could develop its rural economy through agriculture and livestock.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claims that cellular mobile services have now reached 91% of the country's population with 3G/4G signals reaching over 81% through 55,777 operational cell sites.

However, multiple issues still emerge including the disruption to internet connectivity and slowdown in its speed, mainly in case of any complexity in undersea cables and fibre optics. Various cellular sites are reported to be not operating in rural areas due to the unavailability of electricity or power generation backup.

IT expert Dr Noman Said stressed that the satellite internet service would serve as an alternative for IT companies that could help exporters deliver their orders on time in case of any disruptions, stave off losses and win more projects from foreign clients.

Satellite internet could help develop a sustainable healthcare system in rural and remote areas, which will provide great relief for scores of citizens.

Government and private sector hospitals could roll out a wide network of telemedicine or virtual hospitals in small cities and villages, treating patients of different ages and diseases effectively without any requirement for traveling long distances to metropolises, he said.

With the help of artificial intelligence and robotic technology along with faster internet connectivity, a number of basic surgeries could be performed by hospitals along with basic staff and infrastructure in rural areas.

The availability of internet services through satellite could further utilise the potential of agriculture, aquaculture and tourism sectors, particularly in far-flung areas, Said added.

These sectors are flourishing in many countries through internet-based technologies and applications, and the adoption of similar policies will pave the way for unprecedented growth in such sectors.