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Pakistan is close to finalizing its regulatory framework for satellite internet services, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said while addressing an Asia-Pacific Telecommunity symposium.
The minister said work on the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) framework had entered its final stages and that the rules would be finalized following consultations with the relevant institutions. She added that the government aimed to provide a supportive business environment for companies seeking to invest in Pakistan’s satellite internet market.
The development could pave the way for greater participation by satellite broadband providers, particularly in areas where conventional fixed-line infrastructure remains limited. However, the minister did not announce a launch date or confirm approvals for any individual operator.
Pakistan Expands Fiber Infrastructure to Support 5G
Highlighting efforts to improve internet connectivity, Khawaja said three new submarine internet cables had landed in Pakistan during the past two and a half years, while work on alternative international connectivity routes and additional cable links was continuing.
She said more than 17,000 kilometers of optical fiber had been deployed through the Universal Service Fund (USF). Meanwhile, the number of homes passed by fiber broadband networks had increased from fewer than three million in 2024 to more than five million.
According to the minister, the share of mobile towers connected through fiber had also risen from below 15% to more than 19%. The government is targeting a fiberization rate of at least 60%, as fiber connections are essential to provide reliable capacity and performance for 5G services.
Khawaja said Pakistan had introduced 5G technology following the auction of 480 MHz of spectrum in March 2026. She added that the government was exploring new business models and district-level connectivity licenses, including CVAS licenses, to help local entrepreneurs provide internet services in rural communities.
The minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed progress on the National Connectivity Plan every two weeks.
Digital Inclusion and Public Services Remain Key Priorities
The minister also highlighted progress in narrowing Pakistan’s gender gap in mobile internet usage, saying it had declined from 38% to 8%. Citing GSMA findings, she said Pakistan had recorded the world’s fastest progress in reducing the gap over the past two years.
On the use of digital technology in public services, she said more than 10 million people had benefited from a technology-enabled fuel subsidy program. A smartphone was not required to access the assistance, she noted, to ensure that eligible citizens were not excluded.
Khawaja said around 2.2 billion people globally remained offline, while approximately 48% of the population in the Asia-Pacific region lacked internet access. These figures, she said, underlined the need to make digital connectivity more affordable and inclusive.
She stressed that technology should improve the lives of ordinary citizens rather than serve as an end in itself. Access to the internet, she added, had become essential for education, healthcare, disaster response, economic development, and national security.
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