Islamabad, 27 August 2024 (TDI): he Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MOIT&T) has responded to the National Assembly of Pakistan, clarifying the status of Starlink’s license application. Despite significant interest from Starlink and other satellite broadband companies, none have met the necessary licensing requirements for commercial launch in Pakistan.
Starlink, which registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in December 2021, applied for a Long-Distance International (LDI) license with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in February 2022. However, the ministry sought stakeholder comments, leading to concerns about technical, regulatory, financial, and commercial aspects.
Key concerns included interference with Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) and Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) systems. Despite discussions, Starlink was unwilling to address these concerns, leading to delays. The ministry emphasized that this was the first NGSO license application in Pakistan, and similar concerns are raised globally.
The approval process was further complicated by the absence of a clear registration mechanism, as the National Space Policy was still under review. The policy was finally approved in December 2023, followed by the Pakistan Space Activity Rules (PSARB) in February 2024. Starlink is now required to comply with these regulations for necessary approvals.
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