• Starlink, Amazon, Shanghai Spacecom among aspirants awaiting finalisation of licensing regime
• PTA policy draft ready, but chief’s legal troubles may delay promulgation
• Draft envisions all user data remaining ‘within Pakistan’; ISPs to block any content when asked

ISLAMABAD: With at least five companies interested in entering the Paki­stani market, the Pakistan Telecommu­nication Author­ity’s (PTA) spadework for launching satellite internet services in the country is almost complete.

However, a final requirement — registration of the service providers with the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) — has yet to be fulfilled, holding up large amounts of potential foreign investment and stalling high-speed connectivity plans.

In addition, while the PTA’s draft policy for the registration of satellite-based internet providers is also ready to be rolled out, the legal troubles facing its chairman could delay its formal approval.

The policy draft was expected to be approved by the end of this month, but a court order declaring the appointment of the PTA chief illegal may delay its approval, since its notification requires sign-off from the chairman and two other members.

Meanwhile, PSARB sour­ces told Dawn that apart from

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