The Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication announced on Monday that Starlink is expected to be operational by November or December of 2025.

During the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT, it was confirmed that Starlink licensing arrangements approach completion. PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman stated, “The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board has given Starlink a temporary NOC to operate in Pakistan. Once regulations are finalised, it will receive a full licence to operate.” Last month, the satellite-based internet service provider, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, was granted an NOC (No Objection Certificate), which allows it to operate in Pakistan.

Elon Musk’s satellite internet network, Starlink, which had recently been issued a
temporary No Objection Certificate (NOC) to operate in Pakistan, is raising regulatory
and competitive concerns, especially in rural and security sensitive areas.
Local telecom companies such as Jazz, Zong, Telenor, and Ufone are concerned about its impact on the market, but Starlink’s premium pricing means it is unlikely to replace fibre-based services in urban areas. Its likely target market is armed forces, law enforcement, customs, and influential individuals in areas where fibre penetration is low. Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim commented that Starlink is not and should not be immune to internet shutdowns, however. Telcos also demanded equal regulatory treatment for Starlink, fearing that Pakistan’s lack of anti-dumping laws for telcos might mean that Starlink’s potential subsidies could disrupt the market unfairly.

Starlink, the satellite internet network owned by the controversial billionaire Elon Musk, has been issued a temporary No Objection Certificate (NOC)* to operate in Pakistan, according to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT). IT Minister Shaza Fatima was quoted in a statement by the Ministry as saying that “Starlink has been issued a temporary NOC with the consensus of all security and regulatory agencies”. The IT Minister said that the MoITT had, according to Dawn News, “consulted with the Cybercrime Agency, security agencies, PTA and Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board, as part of a “Whole of government” approach.

*NOCs are legal certificates “issued by any agency, organization, and institute or, in certain cases, an individual”. In the context of Starlink, being granted an NOC allows foreign entities or individuals – such as foreign journalists or companies – to operate in Pakistan, after receiving approval from relevant agencies and government departments.