Islamabad: The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Hafeez ur Rehman, clarified during a Senate committee meeting on Thursday that VPN usage is not causing slower internet speeds.
He said that VPN licensing would begin on January 1, which he said would resolve some issues.
The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, discussed the ongoing issues of slow internet and its impact on the IT industry. Senator Palwasha questioned the effectiveness of the Ministry of IT, stating that it often shifts responsibility to the Ministry of Interior.
Chairman PTA said that there is no policy to deliberately slow down internet speed in Pakistan. He added that the government, not the PTA, should be approached for questions regarding internet speed policies.
Ministry of IT officials explained that national security requirements sometimes impact internet services, but efforts are being made to minimise the effects on the IT industry.
Several committee members expressed concerns about the generally slow internet in Pakistan. Senator Afnan Ullah Khan pointed out that firewalls could be a reason for the sluggish speeds, while IT Secretary officials admitted that the IT industry has raised complaints about slow internet, especially during times when national security measures require internet shutdowns.
Senator Kamran questioned if internet issues related to national security were exclusive to Pakistan, highlighting that India does not seem to face the same challenges.
Senator Anusha Rehman noted that in 2018, VPNs were registered, and measures such as whitelisting and blocking grey traffic were implemented without impacting internet speed. She said that similar solutions could be adopted again without disrupting services.
The committee urged for immediate action to address internet speed issues, given their critical importance to the IT industry and economic growth.
How to register a VPN with PTA?
To register with the telecommunication authority to use a VPN, it is necessary to complete the online application form with provide basic details. The details include identity card numbers, company registration details, and taxpayer status.
For freelancers, it is mandatory to provide proof of affiliation with their project or company for verification. Applicants will have to provide an IP address for VPN connectivity.
Call centers have the option to whitelist IP addresses to improve security and functionality. For video conferences, companies can whitelist IP addresses to facilitate seamless communication, PTA said.
The applicants may visit the PTA portal to apply for registration or IP whitelisting. Moreover, the spokesperson said the VPN registration process is free and approval takes 8 to 10 hours. However, a fee is required for whitelisting five or more IPs.
