The ongoing debate over slow internet speeds in Pakistan has intensified with the release of a report by Bytesforall titled “Slow Internet in Pakistan and the Smokescreen of VPNs.” The report challenges the government’s narrative that frequent VPN usage is responsible for the nationwide internet slowdown.
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Bytesforall conducted extensive speed tests on multiple ISPs using advanced network diagnostic tools. These tests compared network performance with and without VPNs, examining latency, upload and download speeds, and TCP retransmissions. Contrary to government claims, the report found that internet quality actually improved when using VPNs, suggesting that VPNs are not the real cause of slow internet.
Recently, State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, claimed that VPN usage leads to network congestion and slow internet speeds. During a press conference, she denied accusations that the government is deliberately slowing down internet services. “Using a VPN can cause your phone to slow down,” she said, stressing that the government has not intentionally restricted internet access.
Meanwhile, in a detailed response to the Lahore High Court (LHC), the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) acknowledged that internet speeds in the country have decreased due to four key factors: a damaged submarine cable, mishandling by an internet company on July 31, a cyberattack on August 15, and excessive VPN usage.
Despite these explanations, Bytesforall’s findings suggest that the issue may be more complex than the government is willing to admit.
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