ISLAMABAD: Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet provider, Starlink, has officially registered with the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), paving the way for its operations in the country.
Pakistan’s Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed the company’s registration with SECP, stating that regulatory frameworks for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, including Starlink, are being developed to ensure smooth integration and access for global companies.
The minister told a private news channel that following the approval the space board authority is looking into various technical aspects and this has been communicated to Starlink.
The development came two days after Musk confirmed that he was awaiting Islamabad’s approval to launch Starlink in Pakistan.
He made the remarks while responding to messages on social media platform X by a Pakistani social media activist. “We are waiting for approval from the government,” Musk responded to a tweet.
The registration process is with Pakistan’s National Space Agency (NSA), which is the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission.
In April 2024, the Pakistan government notified ‘National Space Activities Rules 2024’, applicable to space activities carried out within the territory of the country, outside the territory if they are carried out on ships, vessels, or other airborne vehicles registered in the country and every person carrying out space activities and providing Space-based Services in Pakistan.
Under the rules, the National Space Agency will be competent to enter into any agreements with foreign satellite operators to acquire, distribute, and sell foreign satellite data in Pakistan.
A senior IT ministry official said that after the registration process, the satellite data operator will engage with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to obtain a licence and initiate services.
About six operators are currently providing satellite-based internet services globally, and new players are also entering the field; these include Starlink, Amazon, Oneweb and a Chinese operator.
Pakistan has been grappling with slow internet since last year alongside a ban on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
According to a list issued by Ookla Speedtest Global Index, Pakistan was ranked 100 out of 111 countries in mobile internet speeds with a download speed of 20.61Mbps and upload speed of 8.53Mbps.
Meanwhile, the index ranked the country at 141 out of 158 countries in broadband speeds with a download speed of 15.60Mbps and upload speed of 15.53Mbps.
However, in a positive development last month, it emerged that a major undersea internet cable is being laid, which is expected to considerably enhance internet speed and reliability.
The project falls under the 2Africa Submarine Cable System, facilitated by the PTA through the Transworld Associate (TWA) as the landing party for the cable in Pakistan.
The 2Africa cable, stretching 45,000 kilometres, connects 46 locations across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, with the use of state-of-the-art SDM1 technology with a capacity of 180Tbps.
Supported by a global consortium that includes Meta and Vodafone, the cable is expected to go live in Pakistan by Q4 2025, PTA had announced in a press release.
Installation started on December 1, 2024, as the first phase of the work, Pre-Lay Shore End (PLSE) installation included the cable landing at Hawksbay, Karachi. The second phase of deep-sea laying of the cable is planned to start on April 1, 2025.
Once operational the cable will provide Pakistan with 24 terabytes of bandwidth.
Currently, Pakistan relies on approximately 8 terabytes of bandwidth provided by seven existing cables. The new system, connecting the African region to Pakistan, aims to improve connectivity and address long-standing complaints of slow internet speeds.
