Geo News transmission disruption: Was it a hack, PakSat failure or uplink hijacking?

Geo News’ sudden transmission disruption was likely not a traditional hack but a case of uplink signal interference, experts say, raising serious questions about PakSat’s security, encryption standards and satellite oversight in Pakistan.

WEBDESK – Source: BBC Urdu / MediaBites News

Questions continue to swirl after Geo News’ transmission was abruptly disrupted, sparking widespread speculation on social media that the channel had been “hacked.” However, cybersecurity and satellite experts say the incident was likely not a traditional hack but a case of uplink hijacking or uplink interference.

How can a TV transmission be “hacked”?

Rafay Baloch, a cybersecurity expert and CEO of RedSec Labs, believes what happened to Geo News was most likely uplink hijacking — a documented technical phenomenon.

Speaking to the BBC, Baloch explained that, like many Pakistani TV channels, Geo uses the Pakistani satellite PakSat for transmission. The key issue, he says, is that satellites typically do not authenticate content.

“Satellites prioritize the strongest signal,” Baloch explained. “If a stronger signal is transmitted on the same frequency — with correct technical settings like modulation — it can override the existing broadcast.”

In simple terms, if a fake signal is more powerful and correctly configured on the same frequency, it can overwrite the original broadcast signal.

However, he stressed that this is not something an ordinary hacker can do from a laptop. Overpowering an existing satellite signal requires:

• A high-power uplink transmitter

• A large, properly installed satellite dish

• Correct modulation and frequency parameters

• Significant technical expertise

“This is not within reach of common individuals,” he said.

Was this PakSat’s incompetence or the channel’s failure?

Munir Jilani, a media professional with 25 years of experience and CTO at a private channel, agrees that the issue was not internal hacking but a stronger unauthorized signal fired at the uplink.

He dismissed social media claims that Geo had been “hacked.”

“A hack happens when internal infrastructure is compromised, or full system control is taken. That did not happen here,” Jilani said.

Instead, he described it as an unauthorized external signal overpowering the uplink carrier.

According to him, PakSat — operated under SUPARCO — would have full data about:

• Where the unauthorized signal originated

• Its power level

• The equipment used

• The identity of the registered transmitter

Jilani questioned why PakSat did not immediately assign Geo a new uplink carrier or frequency without affecting the downlink, allowing uninterrupted service.

“To use a simple example, if your plot number 116 is compromised, you should be shifted immediately to plot 121,” he said. “Instead, Geo had to move its entire satellite transmission to a new frequency.”

Could this happen to other channels?

Experts say yes — but it is not easy.

Such interference requires specialized equipment, regulatory permissions, and technical knowledge. Satellite hardware imports in Pakistan require NOCs and customs clearance, making unauthorized setups difficult but not impossible.

Jilani noted that this appears to be the first incident of its kind in nearly two decades, and PakSat may not have been fully prepared for such a scenario.

Six months ago, channels migrated from the older PakSat-1R to the newer MM1 satellite, which is still undergoing testing. Whether the transition played a role remains unclear.

Could encryption have prevented it?

Baloch argues that proper encryption mechanisms could have significantly reduced the risk.

Modern satellites use advanced modulation and encryption standards. If signals are encrypted, not only must the interfering signal be stronger — it must also have the correct encryption keys.

“If encryption and monitoring systems are not implemented, interference becomes relatively easier — especially if frequency and modulation parameters are publicly available through open-source intelligence,” he said.

Carrier monitoring systems also exist to detect anomalies immediately, but whether such systems were fully active remains a question.

The key unanswered question

Experts say the burden now lies with PakSat and SUPARCO to clarify:

• Where did the unauthorized signal originate?

• Who owned the transmitting equipment?

• How did it overpower the official uplink?

• Why was immediate mitigation not executed?

Until those answers emerge, the Geo News disruption remains less a “hack” and more a sophisticated case of uplink signal overpowering — raising serious questions about satellite security, encryption standards, and regulatory oversight in Pakistan’s broadcast infrastructure.