ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday outlined several factors contributing to reduced internet speeds and service disruptions across the country.

In its latest report, the PTA identified the surge in the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as a significant cause of internet slowdowns. “The increased use of VPNs during internet disruptions has placed additional pressure on the nation’s internet infrastructure,” the report stated.

It elaborated that VPN usage bypasses local Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), which manage 70% of Pakistan’s internet traffic, by rerouting traffic to international servers. This bypass adds strain to bandwidth and leads to inefficiencies.

The report also highlighted the financial implications of rising VPN traffic. Each megabyte of bandwidth used through VPNs costs approximately one dollar, putting pressure on Pakistan’s already strained foreign exchange reserves.

Bandwidth consumption through VPNs experienced fluctuations in recent months:

• August: 634 Gbps
• September: 597 Gbps
• October: 815 Gbps
• November: 378 Gbps
• December: 437 Gbps
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The PTA noted an improvement in bandwidth usage after November but emphasized the need for measures to address the persistent challenges posed by VPN traffic on local infrastructure and resources.

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