Billionaire Elon Musk announced on Saturday that Starlink has submitted a request to launch internet services in Pakistan and is now waiting for government approval.
Musk’s statement was a response to a message from Pakistani user Sanam Jamali, who expressed optimism that Starlink could help improve connectivity in the country. In another post, Jamali stated that Pakistan had already approved Starlink’s entry and urged Musk to expedite the launch, highlighting the tremendous benefits of enhanced connectivity, education, and new opportunities for millions.
Earlier, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Minister of State for IT, confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with Elon Musk’s Starlink to bring satellite internet services to Pakistan. She addressed these discussions during a lively parliamentary session on Friday, recognizing the challenges within Pakistan’s internet infrastructure. Despite recent setbacks, including a ban on the social media platform X, Khawaja assured that the government remains dedicated to enhancing internet services, claiming that such restrictions impact less than two percent of the population.
She also defended the measures for surveillance, citing national security concerns in the wake of recent terrorist incidents.
Starlink’s previous attempts to enter the Pakistani market faced delays due to regulatory obstacles and concerns regarding interference with Pakistan’s geostationary satellite, PakSAT-MM1.
A report by Top10VPN.com indicated that Pakistan experienced significant internet outages, costing the country approximately $1.62 billion. This issue is part of a wider global trend, with internet disruptions amounting to a total of 88,788 hours last year, resulting in financial losses totaling $7.69 billion worldwide.
