The UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has granted Starlink Satellite Communications a 10-year General Space Services License, authorising the company to establish, operate, and manage a public satellite communications network and provide broadband satellite internet services in the UAE.
The licence marks an important milestone in the UAE’s regulatory framework for satellite communications services. It adds a space-based layer to the country’s national digital infrastructure complementing terrestrial fibre-optic and 5G networks.
This will diversify internet access options, enhance the resilience, readiness, and continuity of the national network under various conditions, and support critical sectors including maritime and aviation transport, energy, logistics, and emergency response, said a statement.
From a regulatory perspective, the licence reflects TDRA’s approach to adopting a flexible and forward-looking regulatory framework that embraces emerging technologies, expands user choice and connectivity solutions, and promotes competition, the authority said.
This is expected to contribute to service quality, customer experience, and continuity of telecommunications services, while reinforcing the UAE’s position as an attractive destination for global satellite system operators, in support of the objectives of the UAE Digital Agenda and “We the UAE 2031” vision.
The scope of the licence extends beyond individual consumers to include businesses and government entities, as well as satellite connectivity services for the maritime and aviation sectors, in accordance with the UAE’s approved regulatory and technical frameworks. This further enhances the licence’s strategic and economic significance and broadens its impact across key productive sectors of the UAE.
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