Opera bundles free VPN into browser

Web browser Opera has integrated a free and unlimited virtual private network (VPN) into the developer version of its browser.

Public VPN services typically charge subscription fees for users to access region-blocked websites or to obfuscate individual browsing activity. A popular public use for public VPNs is to access content from services such as Netflix in geoblocked countries.

Corporate environments also extensively use VPNs to allow employees to securely access the company's technology from outside the in-house network.

According to a company statement, Opera decided to add the VPN in 2016 to match users' privacy expectations.

“In January, we were reviewing our product plans, and we realised that people need new features in order to browse the web efficiently in 2016,” said Opera senior vice president of engineering Krystian Kolondra.

“It also became apparent to us that what people need are not the same features that were relevant for their browsers 10 years ago.”

Opera said the free VPN works out-of-the-box and only needs to be selected as a preference in the developer version of the browser.

The Norwegian software company cited studies claiming more than half a billion people, or 24 percent of internet users, are using or have used a VPN service. The primary reason for using a VPN was to access better entertainment content.

Opera has 1-5 percent of browser market share.

Last year, Australian ISP Yournet proposed a broadband service with integrated geo-dodging, but was reportedly shut down before launch after legal threats from Foxtel.