PTA Issues List of Licensed VPN Providers That Can be Used by Pakistanis

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has initiated the licensing of Virtual Private Network (VPN) service providers under the reinstated Class Value Added Services (CVAS-Data) licensing regime. This step marks a significant policy shift aimed at regulating and streamlining VPN usage in Pakistan in line with national cybersecurity and data protection standards. According to the PTA’s official statement, several companies have been granted Class Licenses to operate as authorized VPN providers. These include Alpha 3 Cubic (Pvt.) Ltd. (Steer Lucid), Zettabyte (Pvt.) Ltd. (Crest VPN), Nexilium Tech (SMC-Pvt.) Ltd. (Kestrel VPN), UKI Conic Solutions (SMC-Pvt.) Ltd. (QuiXure VPN), and Vision Tech 360 (Pvt.) Ltd. (Kryptonyme VPN). Licensed firms are permitted to provide VPN services to both individuals and organizations for legitimate and lawful purposes. The authority clarified that users no longer need to approach the PTA for separate VPN registration of their IP addresses or mobile numbers. Instead, they can directly acquire services from the newly licensed VPN providers. This move is expected to enhance user convenience and simplify regulatory procedures for both consumers and businesses. The introduction of licensed VPN providers under the CVAS-Data framework is part of the PTA’s broader effort to ensure secure and compliant internet usage. The initiative also aims to minimize the risks associated with the use of unregistered or unauthorized VPNs, which can lead to violations of national data security policies. By facilitating legitimate VPN access through licensed operators, the PTA intends to promote a safer and more transparent digital environment in Pakistan.