Urdu Report Desk
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has outlined four key conditions that Starlink and other satellite internet service providers must fulfil before launching operations in Pakistan.
PTA Chairman Major General (retd.) Hafeezur Rehman shared the details while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication.
He said that four to five satellite internet companies had expressed interest in providing services in Pakistan.
Required Approvals for Satellite Internet Companies
According to the PTA chairman, satellite internet companies must first obtain approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
They must then secure a licence from the Pakistan Space Regulatory Board and obtain approval from the Ministry of Interior.
Once these three requirements have been fulfilled, the matter will be referred to the PTA for further proceedings.
Regulatory Framework Still Under Preparation
Major General (retd.) Hafeezur Rehman said that no satellite internet case was currently pending before the PTA because the Pakistan Space Regulatory Board was still preparing the relevant regulatory framework.
He stated that the regulatory framework must be completed before satellite internet companies can be issued licences to operate in Pakistan.
Starlink Contacted PTA in February 2022
The PTA chairman revealed that Starlink had contacted the authority in February 2022 to seek a licence to operate in Pakistan.
