Pakistan has formally begun granting licenses to regulated VPN service providers
marking an important shift in how secure communication tools will operate across the country. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced the launch under the reinstated Class Value Added Services (CVAS-Data) framework, opening the door for officially approved VPN solutions that meet national security, data protection, and compliance standards.
The new licensing system aims to make access to secure VPNs easier for businesses, freelancers, and professionals who rely on encrypted communication. PTA stated that regulating VPN providers will help strengthen cybersecurity, improve transparency, and streamline the process for users who previously faced multiple hurdles in registering their VPNs individually.
In the first phase of licensing, PTA has issued CVAS-Data class 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 companies are now officially authorized to offer VPN services for lawful, secure, and legitimate use within Pakistan.
According to PTA, customers will be able to directly subscribe to VPN services from these licensed companies without needing to register IP addresses or phone numbers separately. This change is expected to significantly reduce administrative complications for users while ensuring that all VPN activity remains compliant with local regulations. It also allows remote workers, freelancers, and IT professionals to operate smoothly without fearing sudden service disruptions or registration delays.
The move follows years of concerns around unregulated VPN usage, which the government viewed as a potential channel for illegal communication and grey traffic. At the same time, Pakistan’s business and freelance community repeatedly voiced frustration over tightened VPN restrictions, noting that many global platforms cannot be accessed securely without VPN support.
PTA clarified that the decision to streamline licensing came after last year’s legal review of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which confirmed the federal government does not possess the authority to place a blanket ban on VPN services. Instead, a regulated framework was deemed the most practical path forward—supporting security needs while protecting the rights of legitimate users.
With regulated VPNs now entering the market, Pakistan’s digital ecosystem is poised to benefit from enhanced security, a more structured regulatory environment, and improved trust in local digital services
