New era of high-speed internet in Pakistan, Amazon to introduce Project Kuiper by 2026

Amazon is preparing to launch its satellite internet, Project Kuiper, in Pakistan, which is expected to open new avenues for high-speed and low-cost internet in the country.

According to a news report, after Starlink, a European and a Chinese company, Amazon has also expressed its desire to launch services in Pakistan through its satellite internet Project Kuiper.

During a meeting with Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, an Amazon delegation presented a plan to launch Project Kuiper in Pakistan by the end of 2026. The delegation was led by Mustafa Musa, who is the head of Project Kuiper’s licensing and regulatory affairs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, along with Jeff Katzman and Hisham Al-Shair.

Welcoming the delegation, the IT Minister said that this development is a sign that global technology companies are expressing confidence in Pakistan’s rapidly growing digital economy.

He stated that the arrival of Project Kuiper will open new avenues for cheap and fast internet in the country, especially in areas where traditional internet facilities are limited.

Project Kuiper is actually Amazon’s ‘Low Earth Orbit’ (LEO) satellite network, under which 3,236 satellites will be sent into space to provide broadband speeds of up to 400 megabits per second through low-cost user terminals.

The delegation said that Amazon intends to establish ground infrastructure in Pakistan, which will include gateways and ‘Points of Presence’ (POPs) to ensure stable connectivity and seamless integration with local networks.

Welcoming Amazon’s project, Shaza Fatima said that this partnership is fully in line with the government’s vision of ‘Digital Nation Pakistan’.

She stated that this project is not just about fast internet but about creating opportunities. Through Project Kuiper, we are taking a practical step towards digital inclusion so that every citizen, no matter where they live, can connect, learn and thrive.

The Ministry of IT and Telecom added that such cooperation will create new opportunities for Pakistan’s IT sector, promote innovation and e-commerce and strengthen Pakistan’s position in the global digital ecosystem.

Pakistan’s satellite broadband policy is governed by the Pakistan Satellite Services Regulatory Policy (PASRP), which sets the rules for landing rights and spectrum access for foreign operators. Several international companies have already expressed interest in this regard.

SpaceX’s Starlink has submitted initial technical documents, while OneWeb, a subsidiary of French group Utilsat, has begun talks for gateway testing and commercial cooperation.

The application from the Chinese satellite internet provider SSST is currently in the early stages.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper has now become the fourth major global LEO satellite operator to officially connect to Pakistan.

Under the PASRP regulatory framework, satellite operators require a number of approvals, including landing rights, gateway licensing, spectrum allocation, and security clearance.

These approvals are obtained through various agencies such as SUPARCO, Frequency Allotment Board, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, and the Ministry of Interior.