Pakistan’s telecom sector is facing growing concern as delays in issuing satellite internet licences continue to raise questions in the Senate. Senator Sarmad Ali has formally submitted a call attention notice, seeking an explanation from the Ministry of Information Technology regarding the prolonged approval process.
According to the notice, at least five companies are currently waiting for final clearance to launch satellite-based internet services in Pakistan. While the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reportedly completed its regulatory requirements, approvals from the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board are still pending, causing uncertainty in the sector.
Industry experts warn that these delays are negatively impacting investor confidence and slowing down the rollout of next-generation connectivity technologies. With global trends shifting towards satellite internet and cloud-based infrastructure, Pakistan risks falling behind due to regulatory bottlenecks.
Major international players such as Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon’s Kuiper project, and SpaceSail are reportedly ready to enter the Pakistani market. However, licensing delays have prevented them from launching services that could significantly improve connectivity, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Experts also highlighted existing challenges in Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure, including network congestion, limited spectrum availability, and uneven fibre deployment. Despite discussions around 5G, many operators are still struggling to maintain stable 4G services.
Satellite internet is seen as a key solution for improving broadband access, enhancing disaster response systems, and enabling connectivity in remote regions. However, without timely regulatory approvals, Pakistan may miss out on critical technological advancements and economic opportunities.
