Two prime ministers arrived in Washington, D.C. this week to attend the same high profile global engagements, yet their outcomes for national digital connectivity could not have been more different. Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh returned home with a decisive breakthrough after securing formal approval for Starlink to operate in Vietnam. At the same time, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remains in the United States attending US President Donald Trump’s inaugural Board of Peace meeting, while Pakistan’s long awaited entry into satellite based broadband services continues to face regulatory delays.
During his engagements in Washington, Vietnam’s leadership moved swiftly to finalise regulatory approvals, granting a formal operating license to Starlink Services Vietnam Co., Ltd. The Vietnamese government demonstrated flexibility by easing foreign ownership restrictions to facilitate deployment of low Earth orbit satellite internet across the country. This decision is widely seen as a pragmatic move to accelerate nationwide connectivity, particularly in rural and remote regions where terrestrial infrastructure expansion is slow or costly. The approval allows Starlink, operated by SpaceX, to roll out its satellite network as part of Vietnam’s broader digital development strategy. In contrast, Pakistan’s parallel diplomatic presence in Washington has not translated into a similar agreement with any major global technology provider, despite long standing expectations surrounding satellite internet services.
Pakistan’s engagement with Starlink has followed a prolonged and uncertain path. The company was first registered locally in 2021, creating early optimism around satellite broadband access for underserved communities. In March 2025, the government issued a temporary No Objection Certificate, signaling potential progress toward commercial operations. At the time, officials indicated that final approvals were imminent. However, momentum stalled, and to date, the required clearances from PTA and Space Activities Regulatory Board remain pending. This has left Pakistan outside the growing list of countries adopting low latency satellite internet solutions, despite significant demand for rural and remote connectivity.
Regulatory hesitation in Pakistan is driven primarily by concerns over data oversight and network control. Government authorities have repeatedly cited data security risks associated with satellite based internet services that transmit traffic directly from space, bypassing traditional terrestrial gateways. Unlike undersea fiber optic systems operated largely through state aligned infrastructure such as PTCL, satellite networks limit the ability of regulators to monitor or restrict connectivity during sensitive situations. Officials are wary of losing centralized control mechanisms that are currently embedded within national internet governance frameworks. Alongside technical concerns, international political considerations have further complicated decision making. A widely discussed recent rift between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has reportedly made Islamabad cautious about approving a Musk led venture at this time. Added to this is strong competitive pressure from Chinese backed satellite providers such as SSST, which has intensified lobbying efforts within the region.
As SpaceX continues to expand Starlink services across Southeast Asia and other emerging markets, Vietnam’s approval highlights a proactive approach to digital infrastructure policy. Pakistan, by comparison, remains constrained by regulatory uncertainty and strategic caution. While millions across the country continue to face limited broadband access, particularly in remote areas, the question of satellite internet adoption remains unresolved. The divergence between the two countries’ outcomes underscores how policy priorities, regulatory flexibility, and geopolitical calculations are shaping access to next generation connectivity across the developing world.
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