Pakistan is in discussions with Starlink, the satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk, to introduce its services in the country, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed.
"We are in talks with Starlink to bring them to Pakistan," Shaza Khawaja told the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, a local news outlet reported.
The minister’s comments come amid widespread internet disruptions faced by millions of users across the country.
Shaza Khawaja also shared plans to auction the 5G spectrum in April 2024, marking a step towards modernising the country’s digital infrastructure.
However, she acknowledged that the absence of investment in the IT sector over the past three years has created significant challenges in meeting the increasing demand for internet services.
VPN usage and internet slowdowns discussed
The meeting also addressed concerns regarding Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage, with the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman, revealing that VPN licensing would begin on January 1.
This move is aimed at reducing data security risks linked to unregulated VPN services.
Technical hurdles, such as firewall management, were also mentioned as contributing factors to the country's slow internet speeds.
Senator Afanullah Khan pointed to these issues, while the IT ministry’s secretary added that increased data consumption was another factor behind the disruptions.
Sajjad Syed, Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), stressed the importance of reliable internet access for Pakistan’s growing IT sector, which is expanding by 30% annually.
He urged for immediate collaboration between the government and the private sector to address these issues.
Internet disruptions affecting millions
Lawmakers expressed concern about the recent internet slowdowns, which have caused significant difficulties for millions of users, especially freelancers, digital marketers, and students attending online classes.
These disruptions have hindered the sharing and downloading of media and voice notes, as well as general internet access.
The PTA Chairman, Major (retd) Hafeezur Rehman, reassured the committee that there was no policy in place to intentionally slow down internet speeds.
“There is no policy to slow down the internet,” he said, while dismissing claims that VPNs were the cause of the disruptions.
Minister addresses concerns over potential internet restrictions
In response to concerns about the internet slowdown, Minister Shaza Khawaja attributed the issue to “technical reasons” but added that the government may need to regulate the internet to control the spread of fake news.
“We would restrict the internet [services] with a heavy heart if we have to do so due to security reasons,” Khawaja said, adding that the internet was functioning properly at present.
She also revealed that she had instructed the PTA to identify the locations where internet issues were most prominent.
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