The interim federal government has given its approval for the implementation of the National Space Policy, paving the way for the introduction of satellite communication services within the country.
Umar Saif, the interim Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, announces that multinational corporations will be permitted to launch satellite services in Pakistan upon obtaining a no-objection certificate from the Defence Ministry.
To facilitate this initiative, the private sector has committed to contributing 6 percent of its earnings to the government’s Research and Development (R&D) Fund.
The minister emphasised that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will be responsible for granting satellite communication service licences to interested companies. Furthermore, he highlighted that residents in remote areas of Pakistan will now have the capability to communicate using low-orbit satellite services.
To address the estimated $40 million annual loss to the country due to the unregulated space sector, the government is implementing a new space policy. With the policy in place, Elon Musk’s Starlink could potentially become the first company to deploy low-orbit satellite services in Pakistan, overcoming years of delays.
About Starlink
Elon Musk’s Starlink, a cutting-edge satellite internet constellation, may soon take center stage in Pakistan’s telecommunications landscape following the approval of the National Space Policy. With its extensive satellite network, Starlink aims to provide high-speed and reliable internet services to even the remotest areas, marking a significant technological leap for the country.
This move comes as part of the government’s efforts to regulate and leverage the space sector, with Starlink poised to contribute to bridging connectivity gaps and revolutionizing communication in Pakistan.
