Pakistan Working to Bring Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet Service to Improve Connectivity
Pakistan is making significant efforts to bring Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to improve connectivity across the country, Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima confirmed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom in Islamabad.
“We are actively working to bring Starlink to Pakistan,” Shaza Fatima stated, highlighting the importance of enhancing internet services in the country.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Palwasha Khan, expressed frustration over the confusion regarding the roles of the Ministry of IT and the Ministry of Interior, saying, “The Ministry of IT places the responsibility on the Ministry of Interior for its actions. I don’t understand the purpose of having an IT Ministry.”
During the meeting, Shaza Fatima also discussed ongoing efforts to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), particularly in addressing the issue of fake news. She mentioned that internet usage has increased significantly, but Pakistan has not made sufficient IT investments in the past three years. She also confirmed that the 5G spectrum auction will take place in April.
Syed Sajjad, Chairman of the Pakistan Software House Association (PASHA), informed the committee that the IT industry is growing at a rate of 30%. He also raised concerns about national security, noting that the internet could be shut down in the event of a security threat. He suggested that the government should register VPNs locally, as free VPNs pose significant data security risks.
The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) assured the committee that VPN licensing would begin on January 1, which he believes will address the issues surrounding VPN usage. He clarified that VPNs were not responsible for slow internet speeds, though committee members expressed concern over the general slowness of internet services.
Senator Anusha Rehman pointed out that there were no issues with internet speeds back in 2018 when VPNs were registered. She also highlighted the success of previous efforts to tackle grey traffic, which did not impact the internet’s performance.
Senator Palwasha Khan questioned why internet speeds had slowed down in Pakistan, to which the PTA Chairman responded that there was no official policy to reduce internet speed. He suggested that the government should be asked about any such policy.
The Chairman of the Committee called for an explanation regarding the reduction in internet speeds, stating that understanding the cause of the issue is necessary to resolve the public’s concerns. Senator Humayun Mohmand speculated that the real reason behind the slowdown was political, pointing out that the government’s actions appeared to be targeted at the opposition party, PTI.
Senator Afnanullah inquired about the terrorists allegedly using VPNs, to which Shaza Fatima responded that security matters could not be discussed openly. She added, “If the internet needs to be shut down for security reasons, it will be done with a heavy heart. However, as of now, the internet is functioning perfectly.”
As of December 2024, Starlink, operated by SpaceX, offers satellite internet services in over 80 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and most European nations. Recent expansions have also extended coverage to countries like Indonesia, Zimbabwe, and Chad.
