A new ultra-low latency long-haul fiber network is being deployed jointly by One Network, the largest ICT and Intelligent Traffic and Electronic Tolling System operator in Pakistan, and Cybernet, a leading fiber broadband provider. The network will span the entire length of the country and provide much-needed capacity and redundancy to the communications, internet, and media infrastructure in numerous cities, towns, and districts. The first phase of the project – which includes 1,800 km of fiber network along motorways and road sections linking Karachi to Hyderabad (M-9 Motorway), Multan to Sukkur (M-5 Motorway), Abdul Hakeem to Lahore (M-3 Motorway), Swat Expressway (M-16), Lahore to Islamabad (M-2 Motorway) and separately from Lahore to Sialkot (M-11 Motorway), Gujranwala, Daska and Wazirabad– has been deployed. Both partners are now moving expeditiously to install and test a multi-terabit transport network and attain ready-for-service (RFS). The second phase which includes Hyderabad to Sukkur, Multan to Pindi Bhattian (M-4 Motorway), Hazara Expressway (E-35), Hakla to D.I.Khan (M-14 Motorway), and Islamabad to Peshawar (M-1 Motorway) has commenced and is expected to go live by Q1 2023. Based on learnings from disruptions due to infrastructure damages in recent floods, the project has implemented extra measures to withstand natural calamities. All critical components including optical networking equipment, distribution networks, and power systems are deployed in such a manner that they continue to function in a range of disaster scenarios. Furthermore, the network is being enhanced through multiple rings, and swap arrangements with other network providers to provide an unprecedented level of reliability. Asif Siddique, CEO of One Network, expressed his views, saying, “This national long-haul project is the backbone to enable One Network to deploy state-of-the-art platforms for electronic toll collection (ETC) and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for our National Motorways – the economic backbone of our country.” “Built along the national motorways, the fiber transmission network will provide a robust information highway linking many Pakistani cities, towns, and districts. The infrastructure has been built, and will be maintained, by keeping in mind the capacity and communication needs for our nation and its citizens for the next 25 years,” he added. The infrastructure shall also be available for all cellular mobile operators to provide quality of service to their 3G/4G subscribers along the motorway routes. “We are building safe and reliable long-haul fiber infrastructure with an aim to contribute to improving quality of service and digitalization efforts of the government of Pakistan,” Danish A. Lakhani, CEO of Cybernet said, “Our goal is to provide a high-capacity fiber network that continues to function in critical times. With careful planning of the fiber plant including ring-based protection and regular, proactive maintenance we aim to construct a robust national fiber backbone for use by everyone but one which will be owned and managed by local Pakistanis.” “Such a backbone will not only serve the people, businesses, and institutions of Pakistan but also meet the needs of international customers who require high-capacity, cross-border connectivity,” he added. The new long-haul network will also provide tremendous benefit to Cybernet’s own broadband service (StormFiber) by enabling the company to provide multi-terabit transmission uplink to its broadband access network. “This transmission network will enable us to further our mission of transforming the Pakistani economy by bringing gigabit fiber broadband service at an affordable price to households and businesses in every major city of Pakistan. We are on track to roll out our FTTH-based triple play service to the 25th city in Pakistan by the end of the year” he further added. Share now on Social Media:

Good riddance to run-off-the-mill advertising – at least in this one instance – where actors and models mindlessly prance around over jingles that leave people wondering what they just tried to sell, and why so oddly. StormFiber seems to have emerged as the first brand to break the bizarre tradition, replacing it with a refreshingly futuristic TVC where the lead character is a humanoid (a human-robot hybrid), for a change. Of course, we also have Pakistan’s heartthrob Faysal Quraishi in the lead, who is shell-shocked to meet ‘Future’, the humanoid, as he rings the doorbell. Initially, Faysal is seen struggling with his video calls due to a poor internet connection. Future, who represents StormFiber’s 100% fiber-optic connection, transforms all the digital experiences of his household, including video calls, downloads, TV viewing, gaming, and streaming, making them truly seamless. The TVC also highlights how an ultra-fast internet connection actually prepares you to make the most of the opportunities in the future. This is the first time that StormFiber has come up with such a mega TVC campaign, one that disrupts the convention and should correct the course of old-school Pakistani advertising. The brand has been constantly expanding its fiber optic footprint across Pakistan with services currently available in 18 cities. Seeing the futuristic TVC, we now hope that brands keep coming up with such interesting ideas so that users get to see content that is vibrant, fresh, and relatable. You can also enjoy the TVC here: Share now on Social Media: