The government has moved to facilitate the entry of global satellite companies into Pakistan, with leading operators advised to complete registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan before proceeding with registration under the country’s satellite regulatory framework. According to a written reply from the minister, several leading global satellite operators, including Starlink, OneWeb, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology and Sateliot, have expressed interest in entering the Pakistani market.
Starlink has already completed its registration with SECP, while other interested operators have been advised to initiate SECP registration before seeking registration with the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board. PSARB is also coordinating with the Frequency Allocation Board and PTA to align spectrum allocation and licensing processes across the various regulatory bodies involved in bringing satellite operators into the country, reflecting a structured, multi step registration pathway now being applied uniformly to new entrants.
The minister said broadband connectivity through satellite remains a key component of Pakistan’s digital strategy, particularly for providing high speed internet in remote and underserved areas, while also supporting telecom backhaul, strengthening network resilience and contributing to digital inclusion more broadly. According to the written reply, satellite communications in Pakistan are regulated under the National Space Policy, under which PSARB is mandated to develop the regulatory framework for satellite systems, while PTA remains responsible for licensing telecommunication services delivered through those systems.
The draft Satellite Communications Regulations, including provisions for non geostationary and low earth orbit systems, have been prepared by PSARB and are currently undergoing final consultations, while PTA has developed the Fixed Satellite Services licensing framework, which is at an advanced stage and expected to be presented before the Federal Cabinet shortly. The proposed framework is designed to provide a transparent, technology neutral and investment friendly environment for both geostationary and non geostationary satellite operators, while ensuring compliance with national spectrum management and security requirements, with the FSS framework set to cover satellite broadband, telecom backhaul, bandwidth provision and corporate data services once finalized.
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