The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has initiated its second trial to block unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) through a firewall system. This two-day trial involves actively blocking these unregistered VPNs, following a successful initial test demonstrating the authority’s capability to restrict access to such networks effectively.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has commenced its second trial aimed at blocking unregistered VPNs using a firewall system.
According to #PTA sources, this trial will span two days, during which unregistered #VPNs will be actively blocked as part of the process.… pic.twitter.com/yOwifTg91h
— Pakistan Economic Net (@NetPakistan) November 25, 2024The PTA has set a November 30 registration deadline for VPNs, with regular blocking of unregistered VPNs commencing on December 1. From that date, the government will enforce a new policy prohibiting internet users in Pakistan from accessing VPNs without registration.
Read: PTA Extends VPN Registration Deadline to November 30
Currently, the PTA permits only companies and freelancers using VPNs for commercial purposes to register, a senior official of the state regulator. This policy does not extend to ordinary users who use VPNs for online privacy or access restricted content, including certain news websites and social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Interior directed the PTA chairman to block “illegal VPNs” nationwide. The directive highlighted terrorists’ misuse of VPNs to coordinate violent activities and their use to access prohibited content discreetly.
This year, VPNs have become increasingly essential for Pakistani users facing growing internet restrictions and sporadic social media outages. For instance, the government blocked X in February, citing national security concerns, and in July, users reported issues with media file sharing on WhatsApp—problems that persist for some.
Amid escalating censorship, VPN usage has surged, with ProtonVPN alone reporting a 350% increase in new registrations on November 10.
