ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is in talks with Starlink to bring its satellite internet services to the country, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja disclosed during a Senate Standing Committee meeting on Thursday.
The session, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, focused on challenges in the country’s internet infrastructure and their impact on the IT sector.
“We are negotiating with Starlink to establish its presence in Pakistan,” Khawaja informed the committee. She also announced plans to auction the 5G spectrum in April 2024, describing it as a critical step toward modernizing the nation’s digital infrastructure.
Despite these advancements, Khawaja acknowledged the significant hurdles facing the IT sector, particularly the lack of investment over the past three years, which has strained resources amid rising internet demand.
The committee also discussed issues surrounding VPN usage. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (Retd) Hafeezur Rehman announced that VPN licensing would commence on January 1 to address data security concerns stemming from unregulated services.
Senator Afanullah Khan highlighted technical problems, such as firewall management, as a key contributor to slow internet speeds. The IT ministry’s secretary added that increased data consumption has also caused disruptions.
Internet and IT Sector Growth
Sajjad Syed, Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), stressed the importance of reliable internet for the IT sector, which is experiencing an annual growth rate of 30%. He called for immediate collaboration between the government and private sector to resolve these pressing issues.
