In a report by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), it has been disclosed that the increased adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) during internet disruptions has led to significant financial and operational setbacks. According to the PTA, the excessive use of VPNs, which bypass local Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), has intensified the strain on Pakistan’s internet infrastructure and boosted foreign exchange expenditures.
The PTA report noted a dramatic spike in bandwidth usage through VPNs, which peaked at an unprecedented 634Gbps in August 2024 and then varied, reaching 815Gbps in October before dropping to 378Gbps in November. By December, there was a slight decrease in usage to 437Gbps following improvements in internet services.
The analysis pointed out that the surge in VPN traffic, which reroutes data through international servers rather than local CDNs, not only exacerbates bandwidth limitations but also incurs considerable economic costs. The report estimates that each megabyte of data consumed via VPNs costs about $1, attributing a significant portion of this expense to the need for more foreign exchange.
With 70 percent of the internet in Pakistan delivered through CDNs, the bypass caused by VPNs has overwhelmed the existing infrastructure, especially the global submarine cables which are crucial for data transmission across borders. The current capacity of these cables stands at approximately 9.5Gbps, which is insufficient to handle the surge during peak hours, thereby necessitating urgent upgrades.
The PTA emphasized the importance of enhancing Pakistan’s internet infrastructure, including increasing the capacity of submarine cables and improving local routing systems to mitigate reliance on international servers. This approach aims to curb the economic impact and ensure more stable and efficient internet access across the nation.
This report comes amid broader challenges with internet speed and reliability in Pakistan. The country ranks poorly in global indices for internet speed, being placed 100th out of 111 nations for mobile internet speed and 141st out of 158 for broadband in the latest OKLA Internet Speed Test report. The slow speeds and frequent disruptions have been detrimental to various sectors including business, education, healthcare, and governance, as highlighted by Mohammad Yasin, Senior Advisor Emeritus at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute.
Photo: PTA
