
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started issuing licences to Virtual Private Network (VPN) providers under the reinstated Class Value Added Services (CVAS-Data) framework. The move is aimed at ensuring secure, lawful VPN operations in Pakistan while strengthening compliance with national regulations and data security standards.
Read more: PTA Grants License to VPN Service Providers
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on Thursday that it has commenced licensing VPN service providers under the CVAS-Data regime, marking a significant step in regulating the sector. The authority said the initiative is designed to “streamline the provision of secure and lawful VPN services in Pakistan while ensuring compliance with national regulations and data security standards.”
The regulator had introduced a new registration strategy last December after earlier warnings to ban unregistered VPNs failed to achieve compliance. PTA confirmed that several companies have already been granted licences, including Alpha 3 Cubic Pvt Ltd (Steer Lucid), Zettabyte Pvt Ltd (Crest VPN), Nexilium Tech SMC-Pvt Ltd (Kestrel VPN), UKI Conic Solutions SMC-Pvt Ltd (QuiXure VPN), and Vision Tech 360 Pvt Ltd (Kryptonyme VPN).
A class licence allows multiple users to operate under a general set of conditions without requiring individual approvals, making the process more efficient. Officials emphasised that the licensing framework is part of broader efforts to enhance cybersecurity and regulate digital services in Pakistan’s growing telecom sector.