SpaceX Still Awaits Starlink Approval in Pakistan After 8 Months

SpaceX is still working to fulfill Starlink requirements for Pakistan’s head communication agency, even after the service has been in discussion for over eight months.

Starlink is seeking approval from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other stakeholders for its technical plans, according to official sources in a report from Pro Pakistani.

Relevant stakeholders are currently evaluating Starlink’s technical plan, according to official documents.

The government is consulting necessary stakeholders including SUPARCO, Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), PTA and FAB about Starlink’s technical and business plans, with many regional countries approaching the satellite internet service with caution out of concern for security issues.

First Gen2 Starlink Satellites to Launch Before End of December, Says SpaceX https://t.co/7miTD6d3sK

— TeslaNorth.com (@RealTeslaNorth) December 19, 2022

The documents also showed Starlink’s security clearance under evaluation by Pakistan’s LEAs to analyze its data hosting practices, laser technology and more.

Once all stakeholders offer clearance for Starlink, the service may be granted a license to operate in the country.

Starlink is registered in Pakistan but must await these key approvals before becoming operational in the country.

Starlink applied for an LDI license in Pakistan on February 24, 2022, in addition to 14 LL licenses for all Telecom Regions in Pakistan in a submission dated April 29, 2022.

In past discussions with SpaceX, Pakistani officials have referenced the country’s 40,000 schools and small- to medium-sized businesses as the main beneficiaries of the satellite internet service.