PTA launches new VPN registration portal amid deadline debate

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has introduced a new registration portal for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), designed to enhance security in Pakistan’s growing IT and e-commerce sectors.

The registration process has been categorised into four distinct groups: companies, freelancers, call centres, and video conferencing users.

Each category requires specific documentation. For companies, applicants need to submit a copy of their CNIC, along with proof of incorporation or active taxpayer status. Freelancers are required to provide their CNIC and an authentication letter from their employer.

Call centers must submit the applicant’s CNIC, proof of incorporation or active taxpayer status, a registration certificate from the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and, if applicable, a fee for registering five or more IP addresses.

For video conferencing, applicants must provide a CNIC, a letter of incorporation or an official letter from government bodies or companies, and a fee for five or more IP addresses.

To register a VPN, applicants can visit the PTA’s online portal and apply for VPN registration or IP whitelisting. While there is no fee for VPN registration itself, the PTA has clarified that a fee is required for whitelisting five or more IP addresses.

In related news, the federal government is expected to extend the VPN registration deadline to December 2024, according to sources. The current deadline, set for November 30, has faced resistance from stakeholders, leading the PTA to request an extension.

This decision is crucial for Pakistan’s nearly one million freelancers, who collectively contribute about $400 million annually to the economy. There are concerns that blocking unregistered VPNs, as planned from December 1, could severely impact IT remittances.

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has also criticised the proposed blocking of VPNs, calling it “illegal” because no law explicitly allows the ban of an app. The Committee warned of potential economic repercussions, particularly the risk of losing millions of dollars in IT exports.

Efforts by the Ministry of Information Technology and the PTA to justify the November 30 deadline have not satisfied the Senate Committee, which remains worried about the potential impact on Pakistan’s IT sector.

Since the PTA implemented its VPN registration policy in 2016, it has registered more than 25,000 VPNs.

The authority claims the registration process has been simplified for businesses like software houses, call centers, banks, embassies, and freelancers, who can complete the process online by submitting essential details through the PTA’s website.

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