Starlink’s Pakistan launch depends on completing four regulatory steps, including approvals from corporate, space and security authorities before final telecom processing.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman outlined the requirements during a Senate committee meeting on Monday.
He told the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom that four to five satellite internet companies wanted to offer services in Pakistan. However, authorities must complete the regulatory framework before operators can receive licences.
The briefing addressed continued delays in launching Starlink and other satellite internet services. Rehman also disclosed that Starlink first approached the PTA for a licence in February 2022.
The four steps before launch
According to the PTA chairman, a satellite internet company must first obtain approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
It must then secure a licence from the Pakistan Space Regulatory Board, formally called the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board.
Approval from the Ministry of Interior forms the third requirement. Once a company completes these stages, its case moves to the PTA for further processing.
Read More:Elon Musk Backs Venezuelans as Starlink Offers Free Internet After Maduro’s Removal
The sequence places PTA processing at the end of a broader approval chain involving several government bodies.
Rehman said no satellite internet case currently awaited action before the authority. He explained that the space regulator was still developing the framework governing these services.
His remarks indicated that completing this framework remains essential before satellite internet companies can secure operating licences. The supplied account of the meeting did not include a firm launch date.
Earlier permission did not complete the process
Starlink’s efforts to enter Pakistan have already passed an initial regulatory milestone.
In March 2025, Pakistan granted the SpaceX satellite internet company temporary registration. The report said the company was seeking a full operating licence.
The Ministry of IT and Telecom also announced a provisional no-objection certificate from the space regulator. That announcement represented progress towards market entry, rather than confirmation that customers could begin using an authorised commercial service.
Monday’s briefing shows why earlier permission and a commercial launch remain separate milestones. Companies still need to satisfy the approval process outlined by the PTA chairman.
Why the launch matters
Starlink uses satellites in low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet. The company says its network supports activities including streaming and online communication.
Satellite broadband could provide another connectivity option for communities and businesses in areas with limited conventional internet infrastructure.
Read More: Why Is Satellite Internet Still Not Available in Pakistan?
However, the committee briefing offered no details on Pakistan-specific subscription prices, equipment costs or initial coverage plans.
For prospective customers, the immediate development concerns regulatory progress. Starlink’s February 2022 approach to the PTA began the process, but the chairman’s latest account leaves commercial operations dependent on further approvals.
