Internet services face disruption in several cities

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Internet users across several cities in Pakistan are facing slow speeds, which have disrupted access to various online platforms and services.

Users struggled with internet browsing and the uploading and downloading of media such as images, videos, and voice notes, Express News reported.

This has created challenges for individuals engaged in online businesses, who depend on a stable internet connection for their operations.

The disruption was confirmed by Downdetector, which showed a spike in outages for WhatsApp, Gmail, Instagram, and TikTok around 11am on December 1, 2024. The outages impacted users who rely on these platforms for communication, work, and social engagement.

While internet disruptions are not uncommon in Pakistan, the frequency of such outages has increased in recent months. Last week, internet and mobile services were temporarily disrupted in Islamabad during a political protest by the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Additionally, the government has conducted multiple tests of its internet firewall this year, which have slowed down internet speeds and caused digital disruptions in the past.

At present, the cause of the current slowdown in internet speed remains unclear, and authorities have not provided an official explanation for the ongoing issue.

VPN registration deadline extended

Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retired) Hafeezul Rehman confirmed that the government had approved an extension for the deadline to register virtual private networks (VPNs), though no new date was provided.

The PTA chief reassured users that VPNs would not be blocked on November 30, as initially planned. "VPNs will not be blocked today," he said, addressing concerns about disruptions.

However, he refrained from specifying a new deadline for registration, adding, "How long VPN registration is extended is a matter for the interior ministry".

The extension follows a request from Wispap, which had urged the interior ministry to extend the deadline to "facilitate compliance".