PTA publishes draft license to ease Starlink operations in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has published a draft license framework for Fixed Satellite Services (FSS), paving the way for foreign and local satellite internet operators to officially enter Pakistan. It should further ease entry for the likes of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite operators.

This is being viewed by industry experts as the breakthrough point that will revolutionise digital connectivity, particularly in rural and underdeveloped regions.

According to PTA, the draft FSS license incorporates extensive feedback received from stakeholders during the consultation process in February 2025. The draft license outlines a non-exclusive framework under which companies will be allowed to establish, maintain, and operate satellite systems in Pakistan.

The scope includes Fixed Earth Stations, Gateway Earth Stations, and Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) to provide broadband, backhaul, intranet, and satellite bandwidth services. This presents big opportunities for global satellite internet operators who have been looking to enter the Pakistani market.

As per PTA, upon receiving a license from the Authority, any firm will be permitted to initiate fixed satellite services to end consumers. The fee for the license has been finalized at US $500,000.

Earlier, the companies used to have to acquire 15 licenses (1 LDI license and 14 LL licenses) for a total price of US $640,000 before initiating services. PTA has lowered the charge and made it easier, with companies now needing to obtain only one license to offer satellite services.

The 15-year license requires operators to launch services within 18 months of the grant and set up at least a Gateway Earth Station in Pakistan. It also calls for the adherence of companies to local data laws, under which all the user data created or processed stays within the country a critical step toward compliance with national security and digital sovereignty policies.

Satellite internet operators will first need to register with the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) before procuring a PTA license. The PSARB, which came into being after the enactment of the Pakistan Space Activities Rules 2024, has been mandated to grant and regulate outer space activities within Pakistan.

The Board is now working on a regulatory framework in association with an international consultant to deal with licensing, safety, frequency coordination, and data protection.

The framework, developed based on the National Space Policy that was approved in 2023 and the 2024 regulations, will help establish a competitive and transparent space environment. Once ready, PSARB will start registering satellite internet firms in Pakistan.

Financial obligations are equally well defined. The draft license suggests a one-off license fee of US $500,000, plus yearly contributions to the Universal Service Fund (1.5% of gross income), spectrum charges (0.5%), and yearly license fees (0.5%). This model of revenue sharing is intended to reconcile regulatory control with scope for business expansion, together with support for digital inclusion efforts.

PTA has placed the draft license on public display on its portal until September 19, 2025, requesting stakeholders and interested entities to comment on the framework.

Experts in the industry consider that this will pave the way for foreign satellite operators like Starlink (SpaceX), Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), OneWeb, and others to gain a strong presence in Pakistan’s digital economy.