The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) on Friday approved the issuance of the no-objection certificate (NoC) to the US satellite-based internet provider, Starlink, a significant move that is set to bolster the country's digital landscape.
Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that Starlink had been granted temporary registration in Pakistan on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following the consensus among all security and regulatory bodies.
According to sources, the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) was expected to issue the licence to Star-link in the next two weeks. However, they added that the company might take a year's time to start its services to the Pakistan consumers.
Starlink, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, officially registered with Pakistan's Securities and Ex-change Commission (SECP) under the name Starlink Internet Services (Private) Limited and applied for establishing two or three ground stations in the country.
Starlink first submitted an application for a long-distance international (LDI) licence on February 24, 2022. Additionally, on April 29, 2022, it applied for 14 Local Loop licences, as it works towards providing satellite-based internet services.
According to the PTA sources, the PSARB approved the issuance of NOC after the Starlink fulfilled all the requirements of the Space Regulatory Board (SRB) – the body that implements the National Satellite Policy, 2023, and the Pakistan Space Activities Rules, 2024.
The approval by the PSARB is the second stage of getting the licence in Pakistan. The company had obtained registration from the SECP, and the Pakistan Software Export Board. Now, the PTA licence would be the final stage, after which it would start its services.
IT Minister Khawaja said in a statement that the approval of satellite internet was a milestone for Pakistan's digital future. "The government has worked closely with all institutions under the 'whole of government' approach to bring improvement in the internet services," she said.
"Modern solutions like satellite internet will greatly enhance connectivity, particularly in underserved and remote areas of Pakistan," she added. She expressed her optimism that Starlink's entry in Pakistan would formally launch satellite internet services, marking a new era in the country's digital connectivity.
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