VPN usage has caused internet slowdown in Pakistan, claims PTA

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has completed its investigation into the recent nationwide internet slowdown and has presented a detailed report to the Ministry of Information Technology.

The investigation revealed that the surge in Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage significantly contributed to the strain on bandwidth, leading the PTA to recommend an expansion of bandwidth to accommodate the increasing internet demand.

The PTA's report included data from all telecom operators, including PTCL, and outlined the challenges faced on their networks.

The slowdown adversely affected social media engagement, web browsing, and over-the-top (OTT) services, with users experiencing diminished performance and interruptions.

There were reports of access issues on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), a decline in data traffic on major applications such as TikTok, and performance challenges on widely used OTT platforms.

Fixed-line operators, including PTCL, also noted disruptions in social media services during this period. Users encountered significant delays in video streaming, voice and video calls, and general web browsing. While telecom operators acknowledged the difficulties faced, they indicated that web browsing and data services were less impacted compared to other applications.

In its findings, the PTA underscored the critical need to enhance bandwidth to mitigate the pressures resulting from the increased use of VPNs.

The authority has called on telecom operators to modify their infrastructure to better handle the rising internet demand, especially for bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming and real-time communications.