Starlink’s license to operate in Pakistan is being reviewed, said Pakistan’s federal Minister for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, bringing the satellite internet network owned by Elon Musk one step closer to possibly operating in Pakistan. Though the company has been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), it does not yet have a license to operate in the country.

Starlink is one of three of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) operators vying to provide satellite internetas reported by Geo TV on January 14. Satellite internet is in increasing demand, owing to ongoing internet disruptions and shutdowns, as well as internet infrastructural issues. OneWeb and Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) are also looking to enter the Pakistani market, but as with Starlink have yet to receive licenses that permit them to operate in the country.

At present, High Earth Orbit (HEO) satellite providers do operate in (or more accurately, above) Pakistan, providing satellite television and telecommunication services to Pakistanis. Interestingly, and according to The News of Pakistan, many of the HEOs operating in Pakistan have not registered with the SECP, calling into question regulation compliance requirements.