Elon Musk Unable To Make Headway In Pakistan As Starlink Gets Upended By Chinese Companies

Lahore: Billionaire businessman Elon Musk's Starlink is facing delays in obtaining a license to enter Pakistan's satellite internet market due to data security concerns, the Musk-Trump controversy, and competition from Chinese companies, a Pakistani newspaper reported on Sunday.

What did Pakistan media report? 

The Express Tribune, citing sources, reported that Starlink is among several companies that have applied for permission to operate in Pakistan's satellite internet market, but the approval process has been slowed down due to various unresolved security and geopolitical issues. According to the report, the government has learned that Starlink may transmit certain data in violation of Pakistan's surveillance, regulatory, and security framework.

The report quoted a senior government official as saying, "We cannot grant Starlink a license without security checks to ensure the safety of Pakistani users' data and prevent data theft." According to officials, the controversy between Musk and former US President Donald Trump is another major reason why the Pakistani government is hesitant to grant security clearance.

They said that relations between Washington and Islamabad have improved since Trump became US president for the second time in January of last year, and Pakistan does not want to take any step that would displease the US. The report said that currently, five companies are trying to obtain licenses for satellite-based internet services in Pakistan and are planning to invest millions of US dollars in the country.

Has China shown interest? 

According to the Pakistan Space Activity Regulatory Board (PSARB), five companies, including Starlink and China-based Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Limited (SSST), have shown keen interest in providing satellite-based internet services.

According to officials, Chinese companies already have a strong foothold in the Pakistani market compared to American companies, and the Chinese companies looking to enter Pakistan's satellite internet market consider Starlink their direct competitor. However, officials said that the registration process is still pending with the PSARB board, which has not yet finalized the licensing system.