ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Tuesday that Pakistan satellite internet is in its final stages, telling the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Symposium on Digital Transformation and the Universal Service Fund that the service could launch soon.
The minister told delegates in Islamabad that the regulatory framework for Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) is being finalised after consultations with relevant institutions. She said the government wants a business-friendly environment for companies investing in Pakistan’s satellite internet sector.
The announcement marks the clearest official signal yet that commercial satellite broadband is approaching readiness in Pakistan. Starlink has already secured its NOC for satellite broadband in Pakistan, and an FSS framework would give operators and investors the rules they need to operate. Readers new to the subject can read our beginner’s guide to how satellite internet works.
Pakistan satellite internet: key digital milestones
Alongside the satellite internet announcement, Khawaja laid out a series of digital-infrastructure figures, most of them confirmed by independent reporting:
| Milestone | Figure |
|---|---|
| New submarine cables landed (last 2.5 years) | 3 |
| Optical fibre laid by Universal Service Fund | 17,000+ km |
| Homes passed by fibre broadband | Under 3m in 2024 to over 5m now |
| Mobile internet gender gap | Cut from 38% to 8% in two years |
| Mobile tower fibreisation | Below 15% to over 19%, target 60% |
| Spectrum auctioned ahead of 5G (March 2026) | 480 MHz |
| USF subsidies | Crossing $1 billion |
The gender-gap figure stands out because, according to GSMA data cited at the symposium, Pakistan recorded the fastest improvement in the world over two years.
Why the 60% tower fibreisation target matters
Tower fibreisation sounds technical, but it decides whether 5G actually works. Connecting mobile towers to optical fibre gives each site the high-capacity backhaul that 5G needs. Pakistan has lifted fibreisation from below 15 per cent to slightly over 19 per cent. The new target of at least 60 per cent is therefore a large jump, and it underpins the government’s 5G plans after it auctioned 480 MHz of spectrum in March 2026.
The minister also pointed to grassroots connectivity. Through Class Value Added Services (CVAS) licences, rural residents can become internet service providers in their own areas. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviews the National Connectivity Plan every fortnight, she said.
Technology is also driving targeted assistance. The government recently used a technology-based system to deliver fuel subsidies to more than 10 million people, and citizens did not need a smartphone to receive them.
The satellite push sits alongside wider telecom reform. The PTA has proposed identity checks for foreign SIMs roaming in Pakistan, and it is reviewing competition rules that could affect mobile package prices.
Frequently asked questions
When will satellite internet launch in Pakistan?
The federal IT minister said on October 13 that the launch is in its final stages and that the FSS regulatory framework is being finalised. No commercial launch date has been announced yet.
What is the FSS framework?
Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) is the regulatory framework that sets the licensing and operating rules for satellite internet providers in Pakistan. The government says it completed consultations with relevant institutions and will finalise it shortly.
What is tower fibreisation, and why does it matter for 5G?
Fibreisation means connecting mobile towers to optical fibre instead of wireless links. It gives towers the capacity 5G needs. Pakistan has raised the rate from below 15 per cent to over 19 per cent and aims for at least 60 per cent.
Which companies could offer satellite internet in Pakistan?
The minister did not name operators. Starlink has already secured its NOC for satellite broadband in the country, and the government says it wants a business-friendly environment for satellite investors.
