Another day, another service banned in the country. This time its Viber.
We are widely getting reports that Viber calls are not getting through, however, Viber text messages are working fine, we have checked.
As per reports that we are getting, Viber calls are not connecting on various ISPs in almost all major cities, meaning that, this is not ISP specific ban, rather its a country wide ban.
It is assumed that service has been blocked due to a recent proposal by Sindh government to ban Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and other IM services due to security situation in Karachi.
However, we suspect that this Viber ban has to do something with the VoIP calling facility, which was hurting the revenues of telecom operators. Just to mention, VoIP calling services are not legal in Pakistan, unless you are call centre or if you have special authorization from PTA.
It maybe recalled that Skype (PC to Phone) calling is already blocked on various ISPs in Pakistan.
We have confirmation from PTA for not issuing any directive regarding the blockade of Viber.
Through a tweet, Viber has hinted that the company suspects inaccessibility of its services in Pakistan
@syedhasanzaidi We are suspecting Viber has been blocked, yep. :/
— Viber (@Viber) October 10, 2013
This is a developing story, where we are still uncertain about the source of directions for the banning of Viber in Pakistan.
Update
It appears that all the fuss was due to a technical glitch on gateway level. Experts are predicting that this had to do something with the testing/configuration of new filteration system installed by PTCL. However, we still don’t have final words on this.
In a related news, Facebook remained inaccessible for masses during past two days (while it still is inaccessable for many) due to similar reasons.
It is likely that both the services will keep snipping in and out over the next few days.
Want to know how to use WhatsApp on Laptop? Click on the link and read the article then.
What they actually upto?
Youtube and now its viber….
whats next?
Life.
Internet
You’ll soon be using iStone in Pakistan.
Hahahahahaha
The whole internet I guess. It wont take year to make it happen.
next – ban nawaz shareef .
Facebook is also not accessible on PTCL… Its not working on my side.. My city is Karachi..
yes same here with me in Gujrat
Its working. Ijust checked it. I am also in Gujrat.
Yes, not accessable in sialkot.
Gys,,,hell with Noooras…
Use any proxy software,,,then fb could be used….. :-(
yes not accessible here in rawalpindi also and money other sites too like imdb i dnt knw what the fuck they doing with the internet i think they taking pakistan into stone age that’s going to happen other world is making cars on autopilot and pakistan making shit on stone
facebook is not accesible in Karachi on PTCL. Confirmed by almost all friends on PTCL..
Same problem with me from karachi but now I use torch browser which has built-in proxy with which I can access facebook and youtube or any other blocked sites.
Now it is opened….
Facebook also not opening on PTCL internet
TALIBANS 1st demand is just fulfilled :D what next??
Nukes @ India & Israel :P
That Would Be Interesting!!
https://twitter.com/Viber/status/388690347879960576
Check NEW tweet by Viber….
Unable to open facebook on PTCL internet
Use Google DNS for Fcaebook :)
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
Hawa Paanni Saans sub per pabandi lagae ga Noora !
Facebook going to block in pakistan… still not opening from PTCL DSL
Just got facebook working after hell lot of attempts! #FailedSystem
Shaair Aaya Shaair..
Its
correct. Facebook is not accessible over PTCL DSL I am facing the same
problem here in Karachi. I don’t understand a point of blocking social
services in our country? Striking terrorists communication through these
channels won’t work because they have more reliable sources of their
own what I say, they aren’t so stupid that they would stop through these
blockades.
Sindh Government isn’t up to right action. They are destroying
revenues.
What they don’t understand is that it also affects any website that has a Facebook “likes” or share widget. That means suddenly sites that have nothing to do with Facebook (like Dawn, Tribune, thousands of other Pakistani sites) suddenly don’t load properly because the user browser is trying to load Facebook widget and timing out.
So, blocking Facebook makes the entire browsing experience go bad.
Choor Sari Baatain Aaj Koi Se 5 Baatain Bata Jo Tujay Pakistan Main Passand Hain!!
Aur 5 Jo Tujay India Ki Passand Nahi!!
Tera Time Starts Ab…
Tweets are not going, Facebook not opening from ipad and web both, viber is also down. Ptcl internet user.
Arrow, kite, lion, bat
no matter what we say it will be like that unless no action is taken by people of Pakistan and this time we do need a representative of Pakistan who will care for people first else i hope that chaos will erupt and we will see some big scale civil disobedience and might be change will come then hope fully not in form of bloodshed but they are not leaving any choice for common people
Working fine in islamabad
Country’s name should be changed to” Blockistan or Banistan”
kamran u r sick… or ignoring the value of lifes gives for the Pakistan Word, years ago
Have you even seen new licence plates in Lahore lately?? The new ones say “Al-Bakistan” and “Bunjab.”
Who’s the idiot behind that I want to know.
Stick To The Topic Mr DoucheVille!!
years ago, na..agreed? now welcome to pathetic life.
Then why Govt want to auction 3G???
are we supposed to use 3G for text and voice calls only???
yes – dekho dekh okon aaya ? :) sherrrr aya shame on pmln voters
Agree With Danish its a Big Game
Professor Sahab Aur 3G Pe Essay Essay Tax Lagney Hain Ka 3G Khud Kahay Ga “Mama Enay Da Ta Main Ve Nahi Jidey Meray Ta Tax Laa Ditey Na”.
For the time being the decision is fine, our goverment have you check and balance on these Apps and the said companies are logging our records and use these ifnormation against us. Be Pakistani and not use bad mouth against as this shows that you peoples are not fair with Pakistan.
You idiot, our government ITSELF is logging our records and will use them against us whenever they want.
Chand Starey Viber Is Doing It!!
yes, its been Blocked.
A very good initiative by Pakistan Govt. (PMLN).
LANAR ✋
LANAT ✋
Petrol mafia, land mafia, CNG mafia, KESC mafia, and now Cellular services mafia, they all deprive us of our rights just for their gains….oh my God, where have we been born :(
Facebook is also blocked in Karachi & Mirpurkhas today.
Facebook blocked in bahawalpur just now
:-(
http://www.facebook.com is not accessible on my PTCL DSL in Lahore since yesterday.
Facebook mobile site (m.facebook.com) is working fine.
Another Stupid Thing by Our Great Government !!
Yai sab darama Telecom operators k liye ho raha hai un ko yai sab
voip apps hazam nahi ho rahi thi 3g per ab just late Night Package hi use hoga :)
Yesterday, I was facing issue with Viber while connecting. But today it’s working just fine.
Viber is FREE but Whatsapp is not, can anybody confirm ?
Whatsapp Free On Android. Was Paid On iOS But Now Its Free!!
Pakistan main online work krny ko dil hi nai krta ab not working facebook and google other problem
which security device they are using to block such applications?, As per
my understanding PalAlto NGN firewall can restrict and provide
applications level security,
recently Innovative Integration has
been successfully deployed NGN firewall at Habib Bank Limited, this is
an immense achievement for us.
http://www.pakistanciosummit.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=271&Itemid=780