ISLAMABAD — On Wednesday, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) identified various causes that are leading to decreasing internet speeds and service interruptions across the country.
In its most recent report, the PTA recognized an increase in the usage of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as a major source of internet slowdowns. “The increased use of VPNs during internet disruptions has placed additional pressure on the nation’s internet infrastructure,” according to the analysis.
It went on to say that using a VPN avoids local Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), which handle 70% of Pakistan’s internet traffic, by redirecting it to overseas servers. This bypass puts demand on bandwidth and leads to inefficiency.
The analysis also focused on the financial ramifications of increased VPN traffic. Each megabyte of bandwidth utilized via VPNs costs around a dollar, placing strain on Pakistan’s already limited foreign exchange reserves.
In recent months, bandwidth use through VPNs fluctuated. While there was an improvement after November, the PTA stressed the need for actions to address the ongoing issues of VPN traffic on local infrastructure and resources.
