• Starlink, Amazon, Shanghai Spacecom among applicants waiting for the completion of the licensing regime
• Ready of Pta Policy Borry, but Chief’s legal problems can delay promulgation
• Draft visualizes all user data that remains ‘inside Pakistan’; ISP to block any content when asked
Islamabad: With at least five companies interested in entering the Pakistani market, the work of the Telecommunications Authority of Pakistan (PTA) to launch satellite Internet services in the country is almost complete.
However, a final requirement, the registration of service suppliers with the Pakistan space regulatory board (PSARB), has not yet been fulfilled, maintaining large amounts of potential foreign investments and staging high -speed connectivity plans.
In addition, although the draft of the PTA policy for the registration of satellite -based Internet suppliers is also ready to be implemented, the legal problems facing its president could delay their formal approval.
It was expected that the draft of the policy was approved by the end of this month, but a court order that declares the appointment of the illegal PTA head can delay its approval, since its notification requires the session of the president and two other members.
Meanwhile, Psarb sources said Sunrise That apart from Starlink and Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Limited (SSST), Eutelsat Oneweb, the Kuiper project of Amazon and the Canadian satellite company Telesat have expressed their will and completed their bases to launch services in Pakistan.
However, the key requirement of the PSARB registration is still pending, since the Board has not yet ended its license regime.
A senior PSARB official told him Sunrise These consultations with the interested parties were underway, but the draft registration process for providers of low terrestrial orbit satellites (Leo) had not yet been completed.
The process is expected to take longer, but officials could not offer a clear time frame for how long it could take.
IT ministry officials explained that the main requirement was the security authorization of the Internet companies in question.
Ti Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja had previously stated that Internet satellite services would begin in November or December of this year. However, she did not respond to a consultation on delays in the registration process.
A senior executive of one of the applicants for companies said Sunrise That the registration process with PSARB was a first step, but establishing administrative and network infrastructure to provide Internet services to end users would also take time.
Politics project
The draft of the PTA policy for satellite Internet suppliers provides rapid compliance with official content blocking applications and the commitment to store all data locally.
According to the new “Satellite Service set – License” policy, Internet service providers Leo must block websites, web content or other services when indicated by the PTA.
These suppliers are also prohibited to grant remote operational control, access to network infrastructure or monitor access to the center of the installation to any foreign entity, government or person.
All Leo Internet suppliers must install fixed gateway stations within Pakistan, through which all Internet traffic will be enruted. Similarly, all user data generated, stored or processed by these services must remain within Pakistan.
While these stations seem to be the method for data control and content blockage, the PTA has faced complications in the management of content censorship on social media platforms such as X and YouTube in the past, so it remains to be seen how satellite Internet will regulate.
“Leo companies provide internet directly to customers at a fixed point through satellites, like any Wi-Fi system, but this has no fiber,” said a senior PTA official Sunrise.
Politics also allows Leo Satellite Internet suppliers to offer “return services” to cellular mobile operators (CMO). This means that Leo companies can transmit data from cell towers and base stations to a central or central network for mobile operators, especially in remote areas.
“This will allow Telcos to provide data services in very remote areas as well as their customers, and Leo companies will not sell data based on mobile devices to customers,” the official added.
When addressing a key concern with respect to potential interference, policy includes clauses to prevent satellite beams Leo disturbing geostationary satellite beams (GSO) and other wireless networks within the jurisdiction of land, sea and air of Pakistan.
The GSO satellites orbit at an altitude of approximately 35,000 kilometers, while the satellites leo orbit below 2,000 km.
A “satellite interference reports and resolution resolution” (Sirrs) within the policy for formal reports and exchange of information regarding international harmful interference that affects space services are established.
The frequency allocation board (FAB), the Pakistan notification administration for satellite services in the International Telecommunications Union (UIT), will handle such complaints and reports.
Beyond an initial license rate of $ 500,000 (or equivalent in Pakistan rupees), companies must contribute to 1.5 percent of their gross annual income to the Universal Service Fund (USF).
Posted in Dawn, September 18, 2025
