Satellite Internet is Coming, But With Strict Security Rules

Pakistan is moving closer to launching satellite-based internet services, but with a strong focus on national security, data protection, and regulatory control.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has decided to develop dedicated cybersecurity regulations for satellite communication services to shape how global satellite internet providers operate within the country.

According to sources, the new framework will apply to satellite-based services, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet systems. The regulations are intended to safeguard national security, protect user data, and ensure effective regulatory oversight of satellite service providers operating in Pakistan.

Officials familiar with the process said the proposed cybersecurity rules are expected to require local data routing, secure handling and storage of user information, and lawful interception capabilities.

Satellite operators may also be required to comply with Pakistan’s cybercrime and data protection laws, establish monitoring and incident response systems, share threat intelligence with national authorities, and ensure that their network infrastructure does not bypass lawful regulatory and security controls.

In September 2025, the PTA drafted a Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) license, offering a 15-year, non-exclusive, and revocable authorization to operate satellite services in the country.

The draft license includes an initial fee of $500,000, annual license and spectrum fees of 0.5% each, a 1.5% contribution to the Universal Service Fund, and a requirement for operators to establish a local gateway earth station within 18 months. The license also contains strict provisions related to national security and data privacy.

Despite growing interest from global satellite operators, including Starlink, satellite internet services have not yet launched in Pakistan. Industry sources say progress has been slowed by regulatory and institutional delays. The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) has not finalized its regulations for LEO satellite providers, creating a bottleneck in approvals.

Sources add that the lack of a completed space regulatory framework, along with pending security clearances, has significantly delayed the introduction of satellite-based broadband services in Pakistan.