Pakistan Market Intelligence

Pakistan’s USD $134 Million PakSat-2 Satellite Project Moves Towards ECNEC Approval Pro

Pakistan's $134m PakSat-2 project would replace PakSat-1R. Explore its potential SATCOM capacity, X-band options and the rationale for a third GEO satellite.

On 11 September, the Pakistani government’s Central Development Working Party (CDWP) referred the PakSat-2 communications satellite program to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for consideration, following an earlier approval from 25 June, which granted in-principle approval and also recommended the project to ECNEC.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) received Pakistan’s filing in January 2025 for a satellite at 38° East in geostationary orbit (GEO). PakSat-2 would replace PakSat-1R at that position. Having launched in August 2011, PakSat-1R had passed its stated 15-year design-life milestone in August 2026.

In tandem with the PakSat-2 satellite, Pakistan also intends to upgrade existing ground control and operations centres in Lahore and Karachi. Pakistan’s filings with the ITU call for 4 GHz and 6 GHz (i.e., C-band) and Ku-band (i.e., 11-12 GHz and 14 GHz) coverage.

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