The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Monday that the initiation of licensing for virtual private network (VPN) service providers under a class licence category for data services in the country.

“As part of this process, PTA has approved the applications of two companies for the grant of Class Licences to provide VPN services,” the telecom authority said in a press release.

VPNs are commonly utilised worldwide to access content that may be restricted or blocked for users in their home countries. In Pakistan, many individuals use VPNs to access platforms like X, among other restricted websites.

A class license allows multiple users to operate under a unified set of conditions without requiring individual approvals. As of December 2024, the PTA has resumed issuing Class Licenses for Data Services specifically aimed at VPN providers. Companies offering VPN and related services must secure this license to operate legally in Pakistan.

The initiative is designed to “enable businesses to use VPNs for legitimate purposes, ensuring data security, privacy, and compliance with regulations while fostering transparency in the industry.”

The PTA reiterated its commitment to helping organisations meet their connectivity needs in a responsible manner.

In December of last year, the PTA developed a new strategy to “register” VPNs after previous compliance efforts did not achieve the desired outcomes. The telecom regulator had considered banning VPNs due to insufficient legal grounds but later reversed that decision.