Pakistan to finalise satellite internet regulatory framework soon

Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja has announced that Pakistan is in the final stages of preparing its regulatory framework for satellite internet services. She said the framework would be finalised soon to provide satellite internet companies with a supportive and business-friendly environment in the country.

Addressing a symposium organised by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity in Islamabad on Tuesday, the minister highlighted Pakistan’s progress in strengthening its digital infrastructure and expanding internet connectivity. She said the government was working to improve access to digital services and create more opportunities for technology companies to operate in Pakistan.

Shaza Fatima also referred to Pakistan’s progress in narrowing the gender digital divide. Citing the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), she said Pakistan had made rapid progress in reducing the gap between men and women in access to digital technology.

The minister said Pakistan had made significant investments in international internet connectivity over the past two and a half years. During this period, three new submarine internet cables had landed in the country. Work was also underway on additional cable routes to improve international connectivity and strengthen the country’s internet infrastructure.

She added that more than 17,000 kilometres of optical fibre had been laid under the Universal Service Fund (USF). The number of fibre broadband home passes in Pakistan had also exceeded five million, expanding access to high-speed internet for households across the country.

Discussing the rollout of next-generation mobile technology, Shaza Fatima said Pakistan had introduced 5G following the auction of 480 megahertz of spectrum in March 2026. She emphasised that connecting mobile towers to optical fibre was essential for delivering reliable and efficient 5G services.

The minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to use technology to improve access to public welfare programmes. She said more than 10 million people in Pakistan had received fuel subsidies through technology-based systems. She added that a smartphone was not a mandatory requirement for beneficiaries to access the subsidy, allowing people without smartphones to benefit from the programme.

Shaza Fatima stressed that expanding internet access remained a major global challenge. She noted that approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide still lacked internet connectivity. In the Asia-Pacific region alone, around 48 per cent of the population remained without internet access.

She said Pakistan’s investments in digital infrastructure, fibre connectivity and emerging technologies were important steps towards expanding access to digital services. The proposed satellite internet framework is expected to provide a regulatory structure for companies seeking to offer such services in Pakistan, potentially creating additional options for connectivity, particularly in areas where conventional broadband infrastructure is limited.