VPN access 'restricted' amid connectivity issue

Several internet users reported experiencing "restricted access" to virtual private networks (VPNs) alongside poor internet connectivity on Sunday.

Outage tracking website Downdetector received multiple reports from users facing difficulties connecting to VPN services, particularly VPN Unlimited and Tunnelbear.

Downdetector's data showed a peak of 10 outage reports from VPN Unlimited users by 6:15 pm, while Tunnelbear users continued to report issues as late as 7:29 pm.

Several users on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) resorted to sharing posts listing VPN services that remained functional. Users posted about slow VPN speeds and restricted access, with many alleging that VPN services were entirely inaccessible.

VPNs are commonly used in Pakistan to access X and other restricted websites.

In August, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) intensified its efforts to curb VPN use, aiming to restrict access to X, which remains banned in the country.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar explained in September that the ban on X was implemented for national security reasons, citing the platform's alleged use by "separatists and terrorists".

Tarar stressed that the restriction was not intended to limit freedom of expression.

Although the PTA denied rumours in September that VPNs were being blocked, reports of restricted access persisted.

In September, a technical analysis by digital rights group Bytes For All (B4A) found that Pakistani users accessing the internet through VPNs experienced better download speeds and minimal disruptions.

B4A's recent report, based on a network health scan conducted across various internet service providers (ISPs) in Pakistan, highlighted "significant" performance differences between VPN and non-VPN connections.

"This improvement is seen in higher download speeds and lower retransmission rates," the report noted.