Claim: Starlink recently registered in Pakistan and their internet services are now operational.
Fact: Starlink registered in Pakistan in 2021, but has yet to acquire approval from PSARB and the PTA, which are needed to provide services in the country. However, according to some reports, Starlink’s internet services are being accessed illegally by some IT companies in Pakistan who rely on informal router providers.
Several claims about Starlink operating in Pakistan have spread on social media since the end of 2024. In October 2024, social media posts mentioned that Starlink might be coming to Pakistan.
Early in the month, on 5 October 2024, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued an official clarification, stating that recent speculation that the PTA granted a license to Starlink to operate in Pakistan is false. They specified that foreign organisations must register themselves with the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) before registering with the PTA.
In the same month, PTA spokesperson Malahat Obaid told Nukta that Starlink’s case is currently awaiting “registration” from the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB), among other requirements.
In January 2025, several new social media posts sprung up again claiming that Starlink has been “registered”, or that the PTA have confirmed that the decision to give the company a license has been made.
What is Starlink?
Starlink, a satellite internet constellation developed by SpaceX, aims to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access globally, especially in underserved and remote areas. Utilising a network of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink offers broadband-level connectivity, which is particularly beneficial for regions lacking traditional internet infrastructure.
In Pakistan, the introduction of Starlink has been a topic of significant discussion. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has confirmed that Starlink has not yet secured the necessary license to operate in the country, citing non-compliance with the technical and regulatory framework set by the government.
Concerns over potential interference between Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) and Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) systems have been significant factors in the delay.
Despite these regulatory hurdles, many believe the potential benefits of Starlink in Pakistan could be substantial. The service could revolutionise the country’s digital landscape by providing reliable connectivity, especially in rural areas that have long faced infrastructural challenges in accessing reliable internet services.
This could play a transformative role in education, healthcare, and freelancing sectors, bridging the gap between urban and rural populations.
As of now, Starlink’s entry into the Pakistani market remains under consideration, with ongoing discussions between the company and regulatory authorities to address the technical, regulatory, financial, and commercial aspects of its proposed operations.
Difference between license and registration
Starlink registered itself with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) as Starlink Internet Services Pakistan (Private) Limited in Islamabad on 1 June 2021. However, this does not mean that the company is allowed to operate and provide its services to consumers in Pakistan in a legal manner.
In 2021, when Starlink first registered, the National Space Policy was still in the approval stages. The government approved the policy in December 2023. They then approved Pakistan Space Activity Rules in February 2024. All companies intending to operate satellite internet services in Pakistan have to adhere to these regulations.
The company also applied for an Long Distance and International (LDI) license on 24 February 2022 and the Local Loop Licenses, which are required for a satellite internet provider to function in Pakistan. However, these licenses have not yet been granted and await official approval from the Pakistan Authority for Space and Regulatory Bodies (PASRB).
Hence Starlink has not recently registered in Pakistan, they registered in 2021. And they are not legally allowed to operate in the country until they receive the relevant license.
Fact or Fiction?
On 13 December 2021, Starlink’s Director Middle East & Asia Ryan Goodnight and Head of Global Site Acquisition Ben Macwilliam visited the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Headquarters in Islamabad where they met with then Chairman PTA Retired General Amir Azeem Bajwa.
The next month, on 19 January 2022, the PTA issued another notice clarifying that Starlink had neither applied for nor obtained a license from the PTA to operate and provide services in Pakistan.
On 4 January 2025, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khwaja announced that Starlink has been registered in Pakistan. However, this does not mean it has the license to operate. It is also important to note that the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (SECP) online database does not show registration details of a company with the name ‘Starlink’ in 2024 or 2025 so far.
On the SECP website’s company search tool, three organisations with similar names appear to have been registered in 2021:
- Starlink Internet Services Pakistan (Private) Limited – incorporated in Islamabad on 1 June 2021
- Starlink Networks (Private) Limited — incorporated in Peshawar on 28 April 2021
- Starlink Telecom (Private) Limited — incorporated in Islamabad on 26 July 2021
During a session of the National Assembly Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, Chairman PTA Retired Major General Hafeez Ur Rehman confirmed that the organisation first received Starlink’s application for registration on 24 February 2022. This is when they applied for a Long Distance and International (LDI) license.
In the same session, he also stated that the matter has now been referred to the Interior Ministry for security clearance and that Starlink’s case is also currently under review by the newly established PSARB, which will make the final decision regarding the license.
Soch Fact Check also spoke to a PTA representative under conditions of anonymity, who sent us the official written response that the PTA submitted to the Senate Standing Committee on IT. The document states that Starlink Internet Services (Private) Limited is registered with the SECP and approached PTA with a request to permit its operation in Pakistan for the provision of internet services directly to consumers from the Starlink NGSO satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by establishing two to three ground stations in the country. The company applied for an LDI license on 24 February 2022 and the Local Loop Licenses.
These requests were elevated to the Ministry of Information and IT on 11 March 2022. It further states, “Currently case of Starlink is with PSARB for necessary technical deployment of Starlink earth Gateway Stations as well as analysis of constellation of Starlink Satellites with Geo Stationary Satellites (14 x Nos) providing services to PTA/PEMRA licenses.” The PTA can only grant a license to Starlink, once its registration with PSARB is complete and communicated to them.
In this session of the standing committee, the convener Senator Palwasha Khan asserted that Elon Musk partnered with India to propagate “false allegations against Pakistan.” In response, members of the committee have called for an official apology from Elon Musk before considering granting Starlink a license to operate in Pakistan.
PML-N leader Senator Afnan Ullah Khan stated “The PTA must consider Musk’s campaign against Pakistan before issuing a license. He should apologise for his statements before any further steps are taken.” Chairman PTA also confirmed that Starlink had registered locally and set up ground stations to offer satellite-based internet services.
How did Musk offend the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology?
Elon Musk sparked outrage among Pakistani politicians after endorsing a controversial narrative about “grooming gangs” in the UK, which many perceived as fueling harmful stereotypes against Pakistanis.
The controversy began when Priyanka Chaturvedi, an Indian politician from the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, argued that responsibility for grooming gangs should not be placed on Asia as a whole but rather on “one rogue nation”—Pakistan.
Musk publicly supported this statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “true.” His remarks came amid broader debates in the UK about grooming gangs allegedly operated by individuals of Pakistani origin.
Pakistani lawmakers, particularly Senator Palwasha Khan, condemned Musk’s comments as an alignment with “India’s narrative” against Pakistan and accused him of perpetuating false allegations. The backlash escalated when Senator Afnanullah Khan and others linked Musk’s statements to Starlink’s approval process, demanding a public apology before considering issuing an operating license for his satellite internet service in Pakistan.
Critics, including digital rights activist Usama Khilji, also pointed out Musk’s broader support for right-wing politics and accused him of engaging in bigotry. The controversy has now entangled Starlink’s expansion in Pakistan with geopolitical and diplomatic tensions.
How is Starlink being used in Pakistan?
It is clear that although Starlink has been registered with the SECP since 2021, the company has not yet received all the necessary approvals and licenses to initiate undeterred service provision nationwide.
However, a report by Nukta shows that some IT companies have already started using Starlink’s services in Pakistan. A senior official at an IT company told the news outlet that their company bought equipment from the UK and that a standard business package starts from £110 per month and for an upgraded package they pay £750 per month.
Soch Fact Check also spoke anonymously to a Starlink routers provider who confirmed having sold at least 12 routers in the year 2024.
Virality
On Facebook,we found that the claim was shared here, here, here, here, and here.
On Instagram, the claim was shared here, here, here, here, here, and here
Conclusion: Starlink has not yet acquired all the necessary approvals and licenses to operate legally in Pakistan.
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Background image in cover photo: Profit Magazine
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