Wednesday, February 5, 2025

PTA Clarifies ‘VPN Blocking Rumors’ Rather Allows VPN Registration

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reiterated that VPN blocking is not taking place in Pakistan. In a statement issued, PTA addressed recent reports, stating, “VPNs are not being blocked in Pakistan,” dismissing any claims circulating in the media.

A VPN, or virtual private network, establishes a secure connection between a user’s device and a remote server owned by the VPN provider. This digital tunnel encrypts personal data, masks the user’s IP address, and allows bypassing website blocks and firewalls, providing a secure and private internet experience.

Amid these disruptions, the IT sector and users have criticized the government for the slow internet speeds, speculating that the testing of an internet firewall with content filtering is responsible. However, authorities attribute the slowdown to a damaged submarine cable, with repairs expected by October 2024.

In Pakistan, VPN usage has surged, especially after restrictions on the social media platform X (formerly twitter) and frequent internet disruptions. Users turn to VPNs for fast connections, improved download speeds, and unrestricted access to websites and applications.

The government has also previously linked the internet slowdown to an increase in VPN usage. To address concerns, the PTA encourages IT companies, freelancers, and banks to register their IPs for continued VPN access during potential disruptions. This registration process is quick, free of cost, and available on PTA and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) websites.

Also Read: PTA Enables VPN Registration for Businesses

Since 2020, over 20,000 IPs have been registered for VPNs. PTA clarified that it is whitelisting VPNs through an automated process to ensure the secure operation of IT services, with only selected VPN networks being available in Pakistan.

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