Pakistan has experienced a sharp rise in VPN (Virtual Private Network) usage following increased internet restrictions in recent days. Since November 24, VPN demand has skyrocketed by 330%, according to Top10VPN.
Proton VPN, a leading service, reported an unprecedented surge in sign-ups, with a 730% increase on Monday and a staggering 2860% on Tuesday. This spike followed government bans on platforms like WhatsApp and Bluesky ahead of planned protests.
Despite VPN use, access to popular apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp remains limited in many parts of the country. Additionally, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has set a November 30, 2024, deadline for businesses and freelancers to register their VPNs.