People in Bangladesh have turned en masse to the best VPN apps to bypass the current internet restrictions following widespread anti-government protests.
The first spike in VPN usage was recorded on July 23, 2024, when authorities began easing fixed-line internet restrictions after five days of complete internet shutdown.
Mobile connectivity was restored on Sunday, July 28. However, access to services such as Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, and YouTube remains restricted at the time of writing. This explains why data shows that VPN downloads and subscriptions remain high across the region.
Bangladesh VPN: Usage Increases by Over 7000%
Let's look at some data.
As the chart below shows, only Switzerland-based provider Proton VPN saw a significant increase in usage in Bangladesh as of July 23. The company confirmed to TechRadar a staggering 3,500% increase in subscriptions above normal levels.
Other reports corroborate this trend across the region. Top10VPN experts, for example, observed that VPN downloads increased by 7,043% compared to the period before the July 24 internet outages.
Despite a slow decline since July 25, vpnMentor data shows that VPN usage is still more than 2,500% higher than in the weeks leading up to the protests.
How a VPN can help against internet restrictions
“This episode of internet censorship speaks to the importance of maintaining an open and unfiltered internet,” a Proton spokesperson told me. But how exactly can a VPN help with that?
A virtual private network (VPN) is a security software that encrypts your internet connections and spoofs your real IP address. While privacy-conscious users have long been using this software to increase their online anonymity, it is precisely because of their IP address-spoofing abilities that VPNs are becoming popular.
Did you know?
Elections are another major trigger for internet outages around the world. With 2024 set to be the most important election year in modern history, VPNs are especially crucial now. That’s why, since March, Proton VPN has been offering a free network of anti-censorship local servers to all users connecting from at-risk countries. Read more about Proton VPN’s election support here.
Every time you turn on your VPN app, you are prompted to connect to one of their international servers – most providers have a huge network in many countries around the world.
By simply choosing a server located outside your country, you can trick your ISP (Internet Service Provider) into granting you access to content that would otherwise be geo-restricted.
This is the main reason, for example, why people use streaming VPN services to continue watching their favorite shows when traveling abroad. Likewise, VPN usage continues to rise everywhere as authorities increasingly restrict access to social media platforms, news outlets, and other popular websites, especially during times of political unrest.
Proton recorded VPN usage spikes in 11 countries since January alone. As in the case of Bangladesh, most of these were related to social unrest, such as Kenya in late June, New Caledonia in May and Senegal in February.
Since social media platforms are blocked in Bangladesh at the time of writing, VPNs remain a crucial tool if you are inside the country.
If you are looking for a reliable VPN service, I recommend you check out our dedicated best free VPN services page for one of the most secure and reliable free services. If you are willing to pay for a subscription, NordVPN is our top recommendation right now.
We test and evaluate VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. We protect your online security and strengthen your online privacy when you are abroad. We do not support or tolerate illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Future Publishing does not endorse or approve the consumption of pirated content for which you pay.
