In a major policy shift towards legal and regulated digital privacy, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially started issuing licenses to Virtual Private Network (VPN) service providers under the reinstated Class Value Added Services (CVAS-Data) regime. This move marks a significant step toward formalizing the provision of secure and lawful VPN services in Pakistan, an area long operating in regulatory uncertainty.
Pakistan restarts VPN licensing in fresh bid to control online space
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has authorized five companies to offer “lawful” VPN services, raising fresh concerns about user privacy and… https://t.co/1UrKXBgjSL pic.twitter.com/zCpWQGmuTd— TechPulse Daily (@DailyTechpulse) November 13, 2025
According to PTA’s official statement on Thursday, the decision aims to streamline VPN use by allowing approved providers to operate transparently under national cybersecurity and data protection standards. The authority emphasized that the framework will ensure lawful encryption, data privacy, and ease of access for users who require VPNs for legitimate business, freelance, or communication purposes.
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In its first phase of implementation, PTA has issued licenses to five companies: Alpha 3 Cubic (Steer Lucid), Zettabyte (Crest VPN), Nexilium Tech (Kestrel VPN), UKI Conic Solutions (QuiXure VPN), and Vision Tech 360 (Kryptonyme VPN). These licensed entities are now authorized to offer VPN services directly to the public and organizations, removing the previous requirement for users to register their IPs or mobile numbers individually with PTA.
Officials said the new licensing structure will improve regulatory oversight while reducing friction for lawful users. It is expected to boost cybersecurity, enable businesses and freelancers to work securely, and bring Pakistan’s digital ecosystem closer to international compliance norms.
Last year, PTA had allowed limited VPN registration for freelancers after the Law Ministry clarified that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 did not empower the federal government to impose a complete ban on VPNs. The current initiative expands on that legal interpretation signaling a broader effort to balance privacy, innovation, and national security in Pakistan’s evolving digital landscape.
