Billionaire Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday that Starlink has applied for approval to launch internet services in Pakistan, with the company awaiting government authorization.
Musk’s statement came in response to a post by Pakistani user Sanam Jamali, who expressed optimism that Starlink could help connect Pakistan to a more digital future.
Jamali later claimed that Pakistan had approved Starlink’s entry and urged Musk to expedite the launch, highlighting the significant benefits of improved connectivity, education, and opportunities for millions of people.
Earlier, Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed ongoing negotiations between Pakistan and Elon Musk’s Starlink to introduce satellite internet services in the country.
During a lively parliamentary session on Friday, Khawaja acknowledged Pakistan’s internet infrastructure challenges, but assured that the government is committed to enhancing internet services, despite recent disruptions like the X platform ban, which affects fewer than two percent of the population.
She also defended surveillance measures due to national security concerns, especially in the wake of recent terrorist incidents.
Starlink’s efforts to enter the Pakistani market have faced delays due to regulatory issues, including concerns about interference with Pakistan’s geostationary satellite, PakSAT-MM1.
A report from Top10VPN.com noted that Pakistan ranks as the nation most affected by internet outages, with the country incurring losses of $1.62 billion. This is part of a global trend of internet outages, which collectively totaled 88,788 hours last year, resulting in a financial loss of $7.69 billion.
