The caretaker IT and telecommunications minister announced that multinational companies are allowed to operate their satellite services in Pakistan. This announcement was made after getting approval of a no-objection certificate from the Defense Ministry.
Dr. Umar Saif stressed the need for private multinational companies to launch their communication services in Pakistan following the ban on national communication satellite services. He highlighted that this decision has been made after some unregulated practices in the telecommunications sector contributed to an annual loss of $40 million to the country.
He continued by saying that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will grant licenses to companies that show interest in exchange for a 6% income share with the federal department.
He further announced that this initiative will be able to provide better communication services in remote areas of Pakistan. This low-orbit satellite policy will bring major transformations to Pakistan’s communication system. After approval of this policy, Elon Musk’s Starlink is about to make history as the first company in Pakistan to offer low-orbit satellite services, which is a big step forward after years of delays.