Is Elon Musk’s Internet Company ‘Starlink’ Coming to Pakistan?

Islamabad: Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated at a Senate Standing Committee hearing on IT and Telecommunication on Thursday, December 5th, 2024, Pakistan is in discussions with Starlink to provide its services to the nation.

Under the direction of Senator Palwasha Khan, the conference concentrated on the state of the internet infrastructure in the country and how it affected the IT industry.

The government intends to sell the 5G spectrum in April 2024 to modernize digital infrastructure, Khawaja said, adding “We are in talks with Starlink to bring them to Pakistan”. She also pointed out the absence of IT industry investment over the previous three years, which makes it challenging to satisfy rising internet consumption expectations.

The committee deliberated on the issues of the utilization of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority(PTA), Major General (retired) Hafeez ur Rehman, announced that the licensing of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) will commence on January 1^st, 2025,  to address data security risks associated with unregulated services.

Senator Afanullah Khan emphasized the technical challenges, including the administration of firewalls, that impede internet performance. The secretary of the Ministry of Information Technology stated that disruptions are also attributable to the heightened consumption of data.

Sajjad Syed, Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), underscored the necessity for dependable internet connectivity to support the information technology sector, which is experiencing an annual growth rate of 30%. He advocated for prompt collaboration between the government and the private sector to tackle issues related to the Internet.

Lawmakers have expressed apprehensions regarding recent disruptions to internet service and the sluggish speeds that are impacting millions of individuals, including freelancers, digital marketers, and students. The Chairman of P@SHA apprised the committee that 99% of information technology companies had expressed grievances regarding interruptions in internet service.

PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Rehman denied the existence of any policy to slow down internet speeds, stating, “There is no policy to slow down the internet.” He dismissed the possibility of VPNs contributing to the diminished internet performance, suggesting that an inquiry should be directed to the government regarding the existence of any relevant policies.

Khawaja attributed the sluggish internet performance to technical difficulties; however, he acknowledged that the government might impose restrictions on internet services for security purposes if deemed necessary. “We would restrict the internet [services] with a heavy heart if we have to do so due to security reasons,” she said. “The internet is working perfectly fine today.”

She further indicated that she had recently communicated with the chairperson of the Parent-Teacher Association, instructing him to identify the internet-related issues and their respective locations. Responding to Senator Afnan Ullah’s claim that the spectrum issue was not responsible for slow internet, she asked, “You all have phones in your hands, tell me which app is not working right now.”