ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has initiated the licensing of Virtual Private Network service providers under the reinstated Class Value Added Services (CVAS-Data) licensing regime.
This move is a major policy shift to regulate and streamline the usage of VPNs in Pakistan according to the national standards of cybersecurity and data protection.
As per the PTA official statement, a number of companies have been granted Class Licenses, which authorize them to work as official VPN providers.
The licensed firms are authorized to provide VPN services to individual users and organizations for legitimate and lawful purposes.
The authority has clearly explained that users do not need to reach the authority for a separate VPN registration of their IP addresses or mobile numbers, and can now get services from the newly licensed VPN providers.
This will indeed improve user convenience and streamline regulatory procedures on both the consumer and business sides.
List of Licensed VPN Providers
| Company Name | Registered Type | Product/Service Name |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha 3 Cubic (Pvt.) Ltd. | Private Limited | Steer Lucid |
| Zettabyte (Pvt.) Ltd. | Private Limited | Crest VPN |
| Nexilium Tech (SMC-Pvt.) Ltd. | Single Member Company | Kestrel VPN |
| UKI Conic Solutions (SMC-Pvt.) Ltd. | Single Member Company | QuiXure VPN |
| Vision Tech 360 (Pvt.) Ltd. | Private Limited | Kryptonyme VPN |
The introduction of the licensed VPN providers under the CVAS-Data framework is also part of the broader PTA effort to make sure that the use of the internet in Pakistan is secure and compliant.
The step will also reduce the chances of violations of national data security policies while minimizing associated risks with the use of unregistered/unauthorized VPNs.
With the facilitation of valid VPN access through licensed operators, PTA intends to facilitate a more protected and transparent digital environment in Pakistan.
