Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reported significant financial losses due to excessive use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) during periods of internet disruptions in the country. According to PTA’s findings, the surge in VPN usage has not only led to increased data consumption but also strained Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, as data usage costs are priced at $1 per MB. In fact, an additional 1Tbps of data usage through VPNs is costing the country around $10,000 per minute.
PTA’s report outlined a sharp rise in VPN usage, which peaked at an astonishing 634Gbps in August 2024, coinciding with the height of internet disruptions caused by infrastructure issues. However, by November 2024, this figure had slightly decreased to 378Gbps, and by December, improvements in local internet services led to a modest drop in VPN usage to 437Gbps.
The authority noted that the increase in VPN use was primarily driven by disruptions in Pakistan’s internet infrastructure, forcing users to bypass local Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and route their traffic through international servers. This shift placed additional pressure on global submarine cables, especially during peak hours, which further exacerbated the strain on the system. With most of Pakistan’s internet traffic, around 70%, being dependent on CDNs, this redirection led to congestion, as the submarine cables were unable to handle the surge in demand.
PTA highlighted that the capacity of Pakistan’s existing submarine cables is limited to about 9.5Gbps. This capacity limitation, combined with the increased reliance on international servers due to VPN use, has exposed the vulnerabilities of the country’s internet infrastructure. PTA emphasized the urgent need for extensive upgrades to the country’s internet infrastructure, including increasing the capacity of submarine cables and improving local routing systems, to reduce dependence on international servers and prevent such disruptions in the future.
This report underscores the financial and technical challenges posed by widespread VPN usage in Pakistan, especially during times of internet disruptions. The PTA’s findings call for a coordinated effort to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure to prevent future financial losses and ensure a more reliable and efficient internet experience for users across the nation.
