Islamabad (TDI): The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has resumed the registration of virtual private network (VPN) service providers, allowing companies to acquire class licenses for data services at fees ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs300,000.
The licensing initiative aims to bring VPN providers under regulatory oversight, The Express Tribune reported quoting PTA officials.
Following the implementation, providers will be needed to operate with locally registered data centres and comply with the data protection laws of Pakistan.
The class licensing framework will enable the PTA to monitor and regulate VPN services effectively, the paper reported.
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The PTA will gain access to user data and browsing history under licensing conditions, a move designed to boost cybersecurity steps.
The measure will also empower PTA to detect and trace cyberattacks more effectively.
Now, VPN providers must adhere to local data protection regulations, ensuring compliance with domestic laws.
Moreover, companies offering these services will need to open local data centres to facilitate monitoring and regulatory needs.
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Earlier, the authority had announced the resumption of granting class licences for data services to providers in the country.
“VPN service providers need to obtain Class Licence for Data (Data Services) to provide VPN and related services,” the statement read.
