PTA to issue Fixed Satellite Services licences

To enhance telecom services across Pakistan, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced the issuance of Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) licences. The telecom regulator has released a structural draft outlining the rules and regulations for granting these licences.

A week after announcing the provision of FSS licences, the PTA is now advancing its plan to issue them, excluding Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

These non-exclusive licences will allow companies to establish Fixed Earth Stations, Fixed Gateway Earth Stations, and Fixed Terminal Earth Stations. Additionally, they will support the installation of essential terrestrial transmission facilities for public network connectivity.

The draft licence includes several restrictions since FSS can only be accessed through a registered satellite operator. These include limitations on operating public switched terrestrial networks, mobile satellite services, radio and TV broadcasting, and satellite-based services for moving objects like vessels, aircraft, and vehicles.

Licensees must comply with the PTA’s regulations, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Act, Rules, and Pakistan Space Activities Rules 2024. The FSS licence will be valid for 15 years and can be renewed if the licensee submits a request at least two years before expiry. However, the PTA reserves the right to reject any licensing request and may choose not to renew licences after expiration.

This initiative aims to strengthen Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure and improve satellite-based communication services nationwide.

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