Check a Satellite Phone Is PTA Approved Before You Buy in Pakistan: 22 Entries on PTA's List and the Licence Rule

Short answer: A satellite phone sold in Pakistan needs PTA type approval, and PTA publishes a list of approved models. Its list of satellite devices has 22 entries. Fourteen are labelled satellite phones, mostly Thuraya models. PTA's own annex also marks a satellite phone as needing a PTA licence.

A trekking company in Gilgit wants two satellite phones for a mountain trip. A seller offers a "cheaper" set from abroad. The price is good, but PTA's list does not carry that model. Before the money moves, the list is the first thing to check.

We downloaded PTA's list of type approved satellite devices and PTA's type approval FAQ from its website on 13 October 2026. The list is dated 17 February 2025 in its file name. The FAQ is dated 23 July 2025. The text below follows those two documents.

PTA's list has 22 satellite entries, 14 of them phones

PTA's type approved satellite devices list names 22 items. Fourteen are labelled satellite phones, and most of those are Thuraya models. The rest are tracking devices, transceiver modules and satellite terminals.

The phones on the list came through a few importers: International Marketing and Trading Co., Rockville Technologies and Vehicle Tracking Pvt Ltd. The dates run from September 2016 to February 2022 for the phones. The newest items, from December 2024, are satellite terminals.

The list is a snapshot. A model approved after February 2025 may exist and not appear in the file we read. A model that is on the list is approved for the importer named against it.

The licence rule sits in PTA's annex, not in the list

PTA's type approval FAQ says equipment with satellite or maritime functionality needs a licence or authorisation from the relevant bodies or PTA. Its Annex A marks a satellite phone with "Yes" under PTA licence requirement and "No" under authorisation from other government bodies.

Type approval and a licence are not the same. Type approval says the device may be imported and sold. A licence concerns how it is used on satellite frequencies. The annex does not say who must hold the licence or how a private buyer applies.

We could not find a public PTA page that explains the licence steps for an individual buyer. For a trekking group or a company, ask the importer named on the list what licence cover it provides and get it in writing.

What is exempt and what is not

The FAQ exempts GPS-only devices from type approval. A pure GPS unit is not a satellite phone, so it needs no approval. A tracker with a SIM or an IMEI, a tracking device with satellite function and a satellite phone all need approval.

PTA also says it does not issue type approval for jamming equipment such as anti-drone or GPS jammers. It refers those cases to an inter-ministerial committee under the Ministry of Information Technology. A seller who offers a "PTA approved jammer" is not describing a real certificate.

Starlink is a separate matter. It is not on PTA's satellite device list, and its service licence is still pending, as in our September status check on Starlink in Pakistan. Do not buy a Starlink kit from a reseller and expect it to work. The licensing background is in the Starlink licence guide.

How to check a satellite phone before you pay

Work from the model and the importer, because the certificate is tied to both. Keep the certificate number in writing before you hand over money.

1. Ask the seller for the exact model name and the importer's name.
2. Open PTA's type approved satellite devices list and search for that model.
3. Match the importer's name and the certificate number with what the seller gives you.
4. Ask what licence cover the importer provides for use on the satellite network.
5. Check the type approval sign on the packaging, with the words "Approved by PTA".
6. Keep the invoice, the certificate number and the box.

For ordinary phones, tablets, routers and two-way radios, use how to check a device is PTA type approved. For a phone that is blocked on a mobile network, see checking PTA status with the DVS app.

Common questions

Is a satellite phone legal in Pakistan?

A model on PTA's type approved list is approved for import by the named importer. PTA's annex also marks a licence requirement. Ask the importer for the licence cover in writing.

How many satellite phones are on PTA's list?

The list we read has 22 satellite entries, and 14 are labelled satellite phones. A few of the 14, such as the AP3 Hybrid and the SmartOne C, are asset trackers listed under that label.

Do I need approval for a GPS-only device?

No. PTA's FAQ exempts GPS-only devices from type approval. A device with a SIM, IMEI or satellite messaging function is different.

Is a Starlink kit approved in Pakistan?

It is not on PTA's satellite device list we read, and Starlink's service is pending. Treat any seller of a working kit with caution.

Does PTA approve signal jammers?

No. PTA's FAQ says it does not issue type approval for jamming equipment. Such cases go to an inter-ministerial committee.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read PTA's list of type approved satellite devices and its type approval FAQ. We could not confirm who must hold a satellite phone licence, the licence steps for a private buyer, or any model approved after February 2025.