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Pakistan to Begin Issuing VPN Licenses in January 2025, Starlink Discussions Underway
PTA announces VPN licenses to start in January 2025; discussions with Elon Musk's Starlink to improve internet access in remote areas.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-05
Pakistan to Begin Issuing VPN Licenses in January 2025, Starlink Discussions Underway

In a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that the registration of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) had reached 30,000, and the issuance of VPN licenses will begin in January 2025.

The move comes as part of a broader initiative by the government to address concerns over internet disruptions and security risks associated with unregistered VPN services. Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima, also revealed that discussions are underway with Elon Musk's satellite internet company, Starlink, to bring its services to Pakistan. This initiative aims to address internet access challenges in remote and underserved areas.

The Chairman of the Pakistan Software House Association (PASHA) informed the committee that VPN registration has been in place since 2010, but the rise in disruptions to internet services, which pose national security risks, has raised alarms. According to PASHA, 99% of IT companies have reported disruptions in service, leading to concerns that these disruptions could escalate into a full-scale internet shutdown.

"All countries monitor VPNs," said the Chairman of PASHA, stressing the security risks posed by free VPN services. He highlighted the need for local registration of VPNs to mitigate data security risks. Senator Kamran Murtaza raised the question of whether VPN disruptions are a national security issue exclusive to Pakistan, while Senator Anusha Rehman pointed out that there was no internet issue from 2013 to 2018, and whitelisting had been done during that time.

PTA Chairman confirmed that starting January 2025, VPN licenses will be issued, which would help address these concerns. He assured the committee that VPN registration would not negatively affect internet services.

The government also discussed broader issues impacting the IT sector, including the slow pace of internet services, particularly in light of increased demand. Shaza Fatima stated that the government was taking steps to regulate fake news and amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). She further confirmed that the auction of 5G spectrum will be held in April 2025, which is expected to improve internet connectivity.

Regarding internet disruptions, the Minister of State for IT and Telecom emphasized that while the government may need to shut down internet services in the event of a security emergency, it would do so reluctantly. Currently, the internet is operating smoothly.

A significant development highlighted in the meeting was the government's ongoing dialogue with Starlink, with the aim of bringing satellite internet services to Pakistan's most remote regions. This partnership could potentially solve connectivity issues in areas where traditional internet infrastructure is limited.
Tagged:

PTA

Starlink

DigitalSecurity

VPNs

PakistanIT
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