Satellite Internet Gets Closer to Reality in Pakistan

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has finalized the draft licensing framework for Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) after completing consultations with industry stakeholders, official sources told ProPakistani.

The framework has been forwarded to the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication for further processing.

Sources said the IT Ministry will now submit the framework to the Federal Cabinet of Pakistan for approval. Cabinet approval is a required step before satellite internet providers can formally apply for operational licenses in the country.

Industry analysts believe that once cabinet approval is secured and inter-agency regulatory issues are resolved, satellite internet deployment could accelerate significantly, especially in remote and underserved areas of the country.

The proposed framework is aimed at streamlining regulatory procedures and opening the market to both global and local satellite operators seeking to launch broadband services across Pakistan.

Despite progress on the licensing framework, satellite internet rollout in Pakistan has remained stalled. Officials cited a “complex web of regulatory approvals” along with unresolved security and data compliance concerns as major hurdles. Multiple government agencies are involved in the approval process, which has slowed the operational entry of satellite broadband providers.

Officials said the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board has already completed stakeholder consultations for its space-sector regulatory structure. However, the formal licensing regime for satellite operations and coordination mechanisms is still being finalized. Satellite companies will be required to obtain PSARB registration before applying for PTA licenses.

Under the finalized FSS framework, licenses will be issued on a simplified, non-exclusive basis with a validity of 15 years. The framework allows operators to establish gateway earth stations and provide broadband, backhaul, and enterprise connectivity services.