PTA cites excessive VPN use as cause of internet slowdown
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has stated that the recent internet slowdown in Pakistan is primarily due to the increased use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
According to the PTA, the high volume of VPN usage has caused additional strain on the country’s bandwidth, leading to slower internet speeds.
In its report, the PTA has notified the Ministry of IT, highlighting the need to boost bandwidth capacity to accommodate the rising internet demand.
On the previous day, the PTA had also informed the public about another issue contributing to the slowdown: a fault in the AAE-1 submarine cable near Qatar, which is one of the seven international undersea cables connecting Pakistan to the global internet network. PTA confirmed that work is ongoing to fix the issue.
This fault is affecting internet and broadband services across the country, which has led to disrupted user experiences. As a result, popular platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, have either been suspended or are operating at significantly reduced speeds, frustrating millions of users who now have limited access to online services.
