Pakistan is developing rules for commercial satellite broadband as Starlink, Amazon Leo and other operators explore opportunities to expand high-speed connectivity.
Pakistan is moving closer to commercial satellite broadband, with Starlink already holding provisional registration and Amazon’s satellite internet venture, formerly known as Project Kuiper and now called Amazon Leo, planning to launch services in the country by the end of 2026.
The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) granted provisional registration to Starlink Internet Services Pakistan, a SpaceX subsidiary, on March 21, 2025. The registration allows the company to plan ground infrastructure and complete regulatory formalities, but it does not amount to a final operating authorization.
Amazon announced its Pakistan plans in October 2025. According to Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the company intends to establish gateways and points of presence in the country to support its satellite broadband network. Amazon said its system could provide speeds of up to 400 Mbps through its customer terminals.
The market could expand beyond the two major U.S. operators. PSARB has said OneWeb, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology and Sateliot have approached the regulator about registration. However, the authority previously noted that these companies had been advised to begin registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan before proceeding with PSARB registration.
Rural connectivity could see the biggest impact
Pakistan’s latest household data highlights the connectivity gap satellite broadband could potentially address. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ HIES 2024-25 found that 70% of households had internet access, compared with 34% in 2018-19. Urban household access stood at 82%, while rural access was 61%.
Low-Earth orbit satellite networks can provide broadband without requiring a fibre connection or mobile tower to be extended directly to every remote community. That could be particularly relevant in mountainous and sparsely populated areas where conventional infrastructure can be difficult or expensive to deploy.
The potential applications extend beyond household internet. Reliable connectivity could support telemedicine, online education, digital financial services, agricultural information and remote business activity in areas where internet access remains limited.
Affordability remains a major hurdle
Satellite connectivity, however, will not automatically eliminate Pakistan’s digital divide. User terminals and monthly subscriptions can remain expensive for low-income households.
That makes affordability and access central to the impact of the technology. Community-based connections, institutional deployments in schools and health facilities, and targeted government support could help extend satellite broadband beyond households that can afford premium services.
Pakistan is therefore facing a policy choice as it develops its satellite broadband regime: simply allowing international operators into the market may expand availability, but ensuring that the technology reaches underserved communities will depend heavily on licensing, pricing, competition and accessibility policies.
With Starlink already provisionally registered and Amazon Leo targeting a 2026 rollout, satellite broadband is becoming a potential new layer of Pakistan’s connectivity infrastructure rather than merely a future technology.
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