Elon Musk's satellite internet service 'Starlink' plans to deploy multiple ground stations in Pakistan

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Starlink plans to set up multiple ground stations in Pakistan​


Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, has officially registered with Pakistan's Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP) under the name "Starlink Internet Services (Private) Limited."

As part of its plans, Starlink has applied to establish two or three ground stations in Pakistan, aiming to offer direct satellite internet access to customers across the country, local media reported.

According to a written response from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to the Senate Standing Committee, the company is in the process of obtaining the necessary licenses to operate in Pakistan.

Starlink first submitted an application for a long-distance international (LDI) license on February 24, 2022. Additionally, on April 29, 2022, it applied for 14 Local Loop licenses, as it works towards providing satellite-based internet services.

The PTA has forwarded the matter to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MOITT) for further stakeholder engagement, as part of the regulatory process.

Pakistan's regulatory framework for satellite-based telecommunications is governed by the National Satellite Policy 2023 and the Pakistan Space Activities Rules 2024. In December 2023, the National Satellite Policy was approved, which requires coordination between federal and provincial agencies, alongside SUPARCO (the National Space Agency), to oversee satellite-related initiatives.

Earlier this month, Musk confirmed that Starlink had applied for permission to launch internet services in Pakistan, and awaited the government's approval.

On Wednesday, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) was informed that Starlink internet service could be launched in Pakistan after security clearance, which was a prerequisite for acquiring the licence in Pakistan.

Briefing the committee, which met here with its chairperson Palwasha Khan in the chair, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Maj-Gen (retd) Hafeezur Rehman expressed the hope that the matter pertaining to Starlink would resolved within one month.

Rehman told the Senate committee that Starlink Internet Services (Private) Ltd had yet to obtain the security clearance as well as the Long Distance & International (LDI) and the Local Loop (LL) licences from the PTA, which, he said, were prerequisites for launching the services in Pakistan.

"Starlink services are not available in Pakistan, not even through illegal means," Rehman said. "Starlink could launch the services once it gets security clearance as well as the required LDI and LL," he added, expressing the hope that the matter would be resolved within one month.

During the discussion, the chair expressed concerns about Elon Musk's repeated claims regarding grooming gangs in the UK, allegedly operated by Pakistanis. She described the narrative as "targeted disinformation against Pakistan", further amplified in collaboration with Indian entities.

"It seems Elon Musk has partnered with India to propagate false allegations against Pakistan," Palwasha Khan told the committee. On that committee member Afnanullah Khan proposed that granting licence to Starlink should be conditional to Musk issuing a public apology for his anti-Pakistan remarks.

"The PTA must consider Musk's campaign against Pakistan before issuing a licence. He should apologise for his statements before any further steps are taken," Afnanullah Khan said. The IT special secretary said that there had been no direct engagement from Musk with the Pakistani authorities.

 
I just hope it turns out to be cheap, fast and easily accessible internet service.
 
PTA grilled over ‘delay’ in licences for two firms

The National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom was informed on Tuesday that two companies have applied to provide satellite internet services in Pakistan, and the relevant space regulator is examining their requests.

Briefing the committee, Pakistan Telecom Authority Chairman retired Maj Gen Hafeezur Rehman said that Starlink had applied for an operating licence in 2022, while Shanghai Space Technology also applied for this service in 2024.

Responding to the query by Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the PTA chief said both companies’ cases were with the Pakistan Space Activities and Research Board.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Secretary on IT & Telecom Sabin Ghauri said that the matter was in its final stages and the operating licences will be issued in six months.

Committee chairman Syed Aminul Haque issued the directive that the legal formalities should be complete as soon as possible to allow Starlink to operate in Pakistan.

“It is regrettable that from 2022 to 2025, we are only discussing the possibilities that one satellite-based internet service provider will soon commence its operations in Pakistan,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, the committee members expressed anger over the persistent slowdown and disruptions in internet services nationwide. Ahmed Atiq Anwar said the internet was not even available within 40 kilometres of Lahore city. Other members seconded his observation and said the situation was similar in other parts of the country.

The PTA chairman said the telcos were reluctant to go into remoter markets as there was no business.

The PTA chief informed the committee that the authority raised Rs1.70 trillion in taxes from the IT and telecom sectors in the last six years.

He added that the government had not invested anything in developing IT infrastructure for several years.

Committee Member Sher Ali Arbab demanded an in-camera meeting over internet throttling.

The committee also discussed the pending payments of Rs78bn owed by the LDI companies. However, the committee was informed that if the LDI operating licences were cancelled, around 50pc of ATMs would be out of order.

Chairman PTA added that the entire banking infrastructure runs on LDI and explained that the pending amount relates to recovery of dues between 2008 and 2011 and the cases of LDI companies were pending in courts. The committee was informed that five companies were ready to clear their dues, and the PTA discussed the instalment plan with them.

Later, talking to the media, Mr Rehman said that internet speed and connectivity come from laying fibre optic cables and cited the example of India, where the Modi government has invested $13bn on connectivity in the telecom sector and laid 3.5 million kilometres of fibre.

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