The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has rolled out fresh licence conditions for companies aiming to launch satellite internet services in Pakistan, signaling a major step towards strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.

According to officials, providers will now be required to establish Earth gateway stations within the country before they can secure a licence to operate. This means that foreign companies will no longer be allowed to host Pakistan’s data outside its geographical boundaries — a move aimed at ensuring data security and sovereignty.

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The development comes at a time when global tech giants are showing increasing interest in Pakistan’s fast-growing digital market. Elon Musk’s Starlink has already announced plans to roll out its service, while another American giant, Amazon Kuiper, has also expressed its willingness to bring its satellite broadband to the country.

Meanwhile, two Chinese firms and another international company have already approached PTA with similar intentions, underscoring the growing competition in the sector.