The Starlink Internet Services in Pakistan has yet to commence the satellite-based internet services in Pakistan from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the wake of emerging challenges and concerns expressed by experts and public.
According to experts, Starlink entry is contingent upon resolving regulatory, security, and political concerns, besides the high cost of the service also poses a barrier to widespread adoption among the general public and business community.
In Pakistan, one of the key factors is its cost for the users, initial as well as monthly. Starlink's home plans are estimated at Rs35,000 per month with a one-time setup fee of Rs110,000, while business plans can reach Rs95,000 with a setup fee of Rs220,000.
In contrast, a local ISPs offer fiber-optic plans ranging from Rs2,500 to Rs12,000 per month, thus making Starlink unaffordable for many people because of the low economy of the country the accessibility for households is not feasible.
In March 2025, Starlink was granted a temporary no-objection certificate (NOC) to operate in Pakistan. However, this was not a full licence, and the company still had to meet all the regulatory requirements. Moreover, security clearance is still pending.
Starlink has not received the necessary security clearance from the Interior Ministry - a prerequisite for obtaining an operating license from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Starlink is required to comply with the National Space Policy regulations, which has contributed to the delays.
"Starlink operates independently of local ISPs and national internet gateways, users may be able to access objectionable content banned by the PTA [such as politically-sensitive websites], said Hannan Gillani an IT expert.
"It could bypass state filters, firewalls, and monitoring systems and these challenges could provoke a legal, and political, backlash and problem for state authority over internet governance. Therefore, the PTA should develop a mechanism before issuing the final licence to Starlink in Pakistan," he added.
About the payment method, Gillani said, if subscription fees were paid in US dollar via international payment methods, like credit cards, it would increase the dollar outflows from Pakistan's already fragile foreign reserves.
Unless Starlink agreed to local billing in Pakistani rupees through the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)-regulated channels, the economic burden could grow with more subscribers," the IT expert warned.
A PTA official commented that Starlink's entry in Pakistan could significantly boost connectivity, particularly in under-served and remote regions, but added that the authority was carefully reviewing all regulatory, technical, and security aspects before granting full operational approval to it.
The official acknowledged that affordability remained a valid concern for the users, and "we are committed to ensuring that any such service introduced in Pakistan aligns with our national ICT goals and remains accessible" to the public.
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