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ISLAMABAD: A virtual private network (VPN) can now be registered using a mobile phone number, according to the country’s internet regulator.
To facilitate the legitimate, secure, and uninterrupted operations of VPN by freelancers who don’t have static IP addresses, the facility to register VPN against mobile number has been introduced by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA),” read a statement released by PTA Saturday.
The authority announced that over 31,000 VPNs have been registered by PTA and that the next step is to make the VPN registration process even easier for the IT industry.
Freelancers, per the authority, can “use VPNs on mobile data connection at https://ipregistration.pta.gov.pk” by registering their mobile numbers with PTA.
PTA Requires Freelancers to Register VPNs with Personal Details
Details such as a freelancer’s taxable status, firm registration information, and computerized national identity card (CNIC) are required for VPN registration.
The Ministry of Law recently stated that the government lacked the jurisdiction to prohibit virtual private networks (VPNs) under the Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) of 2016. As a result, the government has chosen not to do so.
Earlier, PTA issued a warning to its users, saying that unregistered connections would be stopped after November 30th unless they registered their VPNs.
Concerns about terrorists using VPNs and access to pornographic content led the interior ministry to urge a ban earlier. The Ministry of Law has underlined, however, that PECA does permit the restriction of certain types of internet content.
Pakistan’s Internet Outages Cost IT Sector $1M Per Hour
In the past, whenever political unrest has broken out in Pakistan, the country’s internet speed has dropped, social media has been temporarily disabled, or both.
Sajjad Mustafa Syed, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), recently stated that the country’s internet outage costs the IT sector around $1 million every hour.
The chairman of P@SHA said, “To achieve the government’s envisaged target of $15 billion, IT exports are linked with market access, infrastructure stability, accommodative taxation policy as well as skilled human resources.”
According to Syed, a staggering 99% of businesses indicated that their services were interrupted, and an even more alarming 90% reported financial losses.
