Pakistan Railways and Cybernet, the nation’s leading fiber broadband operator, have signed an agreement to deploy a state-of-the-art fiber optic network along the ML1 railway line, stretching from Karachi to Peshawar. This partnership marks a significant leap in Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, positioning the country to meet future connectivity demands and drive economic progress. Pakistan Railways’ extensive 7,000-kilometer network provides an ideal corridor for building high-capacity digital highways. Through this collaboration, Cybernet will enhance its intercity capacities, enabling faster, low latency broadband access in cities while expanding fiber access to remote and underserved areas. The network will also be used to carry internet transit traffic from terrestrial networks in Central Asia to submarine cable networks in the Arabian Sea — positioning Pakistan as a strategic internet hub for the region. Aamir Ali Baloch, Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Railways, remarked, “By aligning with Cybernet, we are reinforcing our commitment to contributing to the nation’s infrastructure development beyond transportation. This agreement marks a significant milestone in our efforts to diversify our role and impact for national development.” Danish A. Lakhani, Chief Executive Officer of Cybernet, said, “We are deeply grateful to the Pakistan Railways team, the Ministry of IT and Telecom and our partners One network for enabling us one step closer to achieving our collective vision: With two independent long-haul routes, along the railways and the motorways, we will be building out with our partners, the most resilient and scalable national fiber backbone. Such a reliable, high-capacity, long-haul network is necessary to catalyze digitization, innovation and productivity in the country and lead to economic and social uplift especially in areas underserved by ultrafast broadband.” Share now on Social Media:

Special Communications Organization (SCO), a government-owned telecommunication service provider operating in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, and One Network Private Limited, the digital arm of Frontier Works Organization (FWO), entered into a strategic alliance with Cybernet, Pakistan’s leading fixed-line telecommunications provider. The tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed, marks a collaborative effort to establish a diverse route for China’s expanding digital traffic and aid cross-border connectivity to neighboring countries. With a commitment to bridge the digital divide, SCO’s network infrastructure plays a crucial role in expanding telecommunication services in the Northernmost areas of Pakistan. This collaboration combines SCO’s extensive network capabilities with the long-haul network infrastructure and expertise of One Network and Cybernet. Together, they aim to establish a robust long-haul terrestrial route from Khunjerab via Rawalpindi to Cybernet’s cable landing station in Karachi. This infrastructure will enable transit routes to Europe, East-Asia and Africa via multiple subsea cables.   The signing ceremony, attended by the Director-General (DG) of SCO, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of One Network, Head of Business of One Network, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cybernet, holds significant importance. This alliance will provide the telecommunication transit backbone for a shorter, reliable and low-latency route, resulting in increased foreign exchange for Pakistan. DG SCO emphasized, “Pakistan is rightfully referred to as a Regional Connectivity Hub owing to its unique geographical location that offers the shortest route to China and the Central Asian Republics (CAR) reaching the Arabian Sea. In the realm of digital connectivity, Pakistan boasts optimal internet links connecting China and CAR to the Middle East (ME), Africa, and Europe. This presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan to emerge as a digital conduit linking China and Central Asian nations with global markets, thereby augmenting foreign exchange earnings for the country.” “We’re excited about this collaboration, marking a key step in our commitment to enhancing nationwide and cross-border digital connectivity. Leveraging our built-to-purpose fiber-optic network across Pakistan, we aim to contribute towards Pakistan-China digital communication corridor development.” said CEO, One Network. “This MOU underscores our dedication to optimizing our fiber-optic investments in digital infrastructure across motorways for ITS and Tolling. We’re set to offer an ultra-high bandwidth, ultra-low latency network with unparalleled 24/7 operations and maintenance of the network infrastructure to the telecommunication sector, boosting connectivity and regional economic growth.” Head of Business, One Network added. Situated near South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, this pan-Pakistan Corridor serves as a vital nexus for regional connectivity and economic prosperity. The routes across Pakistan also hold strategic significance in facilitating trade, promoting cooperation, and fortifying bilateral relations between Pakistan, China and other neighboring countries. Share now on Social Media:

The new optical network provides Cybernet with the availability, reliability and flexibility needed to quickly respond to evolving customer needs. The new 600G optical network connects Cybernet’s main metro sites. Cybernet’s advanced IXP platform is powered by the Nokia 7750 SR and 7250 IXR routers to deliver a range of IP peering services. Karachi, Pakistan – Nokia and Cybernet, the leading fixed-line telecommunications provider in Pakistan, today announced they have deployed the country’s first DWDM network operating at 600Gbps per wavelength. The DWDM network enables Cybernet to deliver a high capacity, robust network that is capable of meeting requirements of even the most demanding customers. This new optical network connects Cybernet’s main metro sites and provides the enhanced network capacity needed to support growing consumer and enterprise demand for fast, high-quality broadband services across Pakistan. By further strengthening its global footprint through the establishment of its international points of presence (POPs) in MC-1 in Barka (Oman), MRS-2 in Marseille (France), SmartHub in Fujairah (UAE) and SG1 in Singapore, Cybernet is providing its global peering community members with its advanced IXP platform powered by the Nokia 7750 SR and 7250 IXR routers. This platform ensures optimum connection capacity to meet both current and future needs. Cybernet offers Internet, EVPN and MPLS-based services with rich Quality of Service (QoS) at its international POPs. To better meet the rising demand for high-speed broadband access and network speeds, operators are looking to upgrade their optical networks. Committed to ensuring its customers can tap into the high-speed services it provides, Cybernet partnered with Nokia for the deployment of a future-proof optical network capable of delivering over 600Gbps per lambda. This enhances the capacity and speed of its network used to connect main metro sites within the country. Leveraging Nokia’s PSS 1830 optical transport platform, Cybernet can effectively scale its total network capacity to 28Tbs, serving broadband and enterprise customers across Pakistan.  Cybernet successfully implemented Nokia’s advanced integrated ROADM architecture based on flexgrid technology. Through this deployment, Cybernet can better optimize and extend the reach of its optical network. Additional software management and control functions from Nokia’s WaveSuite service enablement automation software help Cybernet to further increase operational efficiencies. Broadband and enterprise customers can also benefit from low latency, superior quality of services and an enhanced customer experience.  Maroof Ali Shahani, Chief Operating Officer of Cybernet, said: “Using Nokia’s innovative in-house PSE-Vs chipset with super-coherent optical engines allows us to connect our main sites while also giving us headroom to grow our capacity efficiently and cost-effectively. Through our partnership with Nokia, we can meet our customers’ increasing demand for the best connectivity services while also enabling them to benefit from the latest innovations within optical technology.”   Manuel Ortiz Fernandez, Vice President of EMEA Webscale business at Nokia, said: “Having a high-speed optical network that enables the delivery of its advanced IXP platform powered by Nokia’s routers, is critical for Cybernet to keep up with today’s fast-paced digital landscape. We are excited to help bring Pakistan its first 600G optical network that helps Cybernet’s ability to transfer data, reduce latency, improve network reliability and achieve significant cost savings.” About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. About Cybernet Cybernet is a leading fixed-line telecommunications provider in Pakistan, with 25+ years of unparalleled services. The Company owns the largest and most robust FTTX network across the country. With a global network presence in France, UAE, Oman and Singapore along with unparalleled service levels, Cybernet offers Carrier Ethernet, IPLC, DIA, MPLS, Wholesale Voice, Peering, IP Transit, Cross-border capacities and Submarine Transits, Cloud and Carrier Node hosting. Share now on Social Media:

Acronis, a multinational company providing data protection solutions, has partnered with Rapid, a cloud division of Cybernet, to offer managed backup services to the Pakistani market. This partnership aims to provide comprehensive and secure data protection, backup, and recovery services to Rapid’s clients. Rapid is the first Pakistani company to partner with Acronis and will benefit from the expertise of a global leader in data protection solutions. The collaboration between the two companies will enhance their customer portfolios and help provide a meaningful experience while ensuring their infrastructure’s reliability and security. Managed backups will enable businesses to perform full-image, file-level, and application-level backups and recover data quickly in the event of data loss or a disaster. Shahzaib Khan, Commercial Head at Rapid, commented: “I am pleased to announce our partnership with Acronis, a global leader in data protection solutions. This collaboration signifies a major milestone for Rapid, being the first Pakistani company to join forces with Acronis. Our objective is to deliver comprehensive and secure managed backup services, ensuring the utmost data protection, backup, and recovery for our valued clients.” “By leveraging Acronis’ expertise, we will enhance our customer portfolios and provide an exceptional experience while ensuring the reliability and security of their infrastructure. This partnership allows businesses in Pakistan to automate backups, minimize data loss, and choose between cloud or on-premises storage. We are excited about the transformative impact this collaboration will have on data protection services in our market.” Aligned with the overall organizational ideology, managed backups will allow businesses to automate the backup process, freeing IT staff to focus on other critical tasks. It will also provide a cost-effective way to store and protect data, as businesses can store backups in the cloud or on-premises. Furthermore, businesses can benefit from greater flexibility in their data recovery process. With backup data readily available, businesses can quickly restore data to any point in time, minimizing data loss and downtime. Rapid is one of the largest providers of cloud services to Pakistan’s government, financial sector, and large-scale enterprises. It offers cloud computing, networking services, and management tools for digitizing businesses and industries. Rapid stands out as the sole local CSP with certifications in PCIDSS3.2.1 and ISO 27001:2013 and compliance with GDPR. This ensures that their data and network security align with globally recognized standards. Share now on Social Media:

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:

Cybernet and PEACE Cable International Network Co., Ltd (PEACE Cable) have completed the construction and laying of PEACE submarine cable infrastructure in Pakistan together with Cyber Internet Services (Cybernet), the leading Internet and data communication network service provider. The Pakistan-Egypt segment of PEACE has achieved final splicing, thus enabling connectivity from Karachi, Pakistan to Marseille, France ready for service. The PEACE Pakistan-Egypt segment connects Karachi, Pakistan and Zafarana, Egypt, spanning a total length of 5,800 km. The landings of Karachi and Zafarana were completed in March and December 2021 respectively. In addition, the Mediterranean segment of PEACE linking Marseille, France, to Abu Talat, Egypt, a 3,200km long project, has also achieved RFS in March 2022. Therefore, the route from Pakistan to France of PEACE cable system is now fully constructed well and ready for use. In 2019, the landing agreement was signed by Cybernet and PEACE Cable. Cybernet, the landing partner of PEACE in Pakistan, has built the country’s state-of-the-art, Cable Landing Station in Karachi, which will allow global carriers, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), content providers and virtually all IT-enabled firms to tap into the submarine cable capacity at easily accessible interconnect points across Pakistan. Cybernet has the most robust fiber optic network across the country which will also facilitate access and boost business opportunities for PEACE in the Asian region. Through the deployment of the PEACE submarine cable system, Pakistan will have access to high-speed, large-volume internet bandwidth with express connectivity to France. With its ultra-low latency design, this cable will reduce latency between Pakistan and France to 92 milliseconds. This will improve the response time of Internet-based applications and experience of Pakistani users while providing much-needed redundancy to Pakistan’s Internet infrastructure. The increased capacity will finally make it possible to provide ultra-fast bandwidth connections across Pakistani citizens, with speeds comparable to those in cities such as Hong Kong, Singapore and New York. The PEACE Cable System, connects Asia, Africa and Europe, with its stronghold connecting Pakistan, France, Egypt, Kenya. The whole system deploys a state-of-the-art “system-within-a-system” and adopts advanced ROADM powered by WSS and Flexible Grid, providing PoP to PoP solutions. PEACE has a capacity of up to 96T for Pakistan – Egypt segment and 192T in the Mediterranean segment from Egypt connecting to France. Meanwhile, PEACE is now under construction for the Singapore extension, which will extend the coverage of the PEACE submarine cable system to Southeast Asia and continue to enhance the value of the PEACE cable system’s network resources, forming a major Asia-Europe interconnection channel by connecting Singapore, the southeast Asian international circuit transfer center, and France, the European transfer center. “The segment from Pakistan to France has now been built well, which is really a thrilling milestone”, Sun Xiaohua, COO of PEACE Cable, said “With Cybernet, we will bring much-needed redundancy to Pakistan’s Internet backbone and provide users with high-speed traffic to meet the rapidly growing demand for internet access in different types of digital scenarios in Pakistan.” Mr. Shoaib Qureshi, Country Manager of PEACE Cable in Pakistan, said, “PEACE is the first international submarine cable starting from Pakistan and reaching Europe, Africa and Singapore. It is a new beginning of submarine chapter for Pakistan market, we are very excited to grow this region’s connectivity.” Maroof Ali Shahani, COO of Cybernet said, “We have completed a key segment of the PEACE submarine cable system, from Pakistan to France, which will have a tremendous impact on the digital landscape in Pakistan. Providing an enabling environment for businesses and consumers is at the heart of what we do. The cable system will help the nation stay connected with the world in an ever-changing technological landscape.”  About PEACE Cable International Network CO., LTD PEACE Cable International Network CO., LTD, founded in 2018 and registered in Hong Kong. PEACE aims to be leading international submarine cable system operator. PEACE submarine cable system, connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, provides an open, flexible and carrier-neutral services for its customers. PEACE is targeted for completion in 2022. When complete, the high-speed PEACE cable system will offer the shortest routes from China to Europe and Africa, interconnecting three of the world’s most populous continents whilst at the same time dramatically reducing latency, delivering a superior connectivity experience which will be ideal for a vast array of commercial and consumer applications. To learn more about PEACE Cable System, please visit www.peacecable.com About Cybernet Cybernet, part of Lakson Group of Companies, focuses on providing specialized end-to-end connectivity solutions to its corporate, enterprise and fiber broadband customers nationwide, and carrier services to international telecom service providers. The company has established its own GPON based fiber-optic infrastructure and also has Points of Presence (POPs) in major cities of Pakistan. The company is laying its own long-haul infrastructure to enable nationwide connectivity. To learn more about Cybernet, please visit www.cyber.net.pk Share now on Social Media:

RapidCompute, Pakistan’s leading cloud service provider celebrated 11 years of providing a #TrueCloudExperience to its customers. An exclusive movie screening was hosted on May 27th, Friday at Nueplex cinemas for Rapid’s employees, partners, and customers. All colleagues and customers came together for a networking session, followed by an award ceremony to appreciate employees for their longstanding service. Rapid is Pakistan’s first Enterprise-Class public cloud computing platform. It took off 11 years ago, when the world looked a lot different. A time when cell phones could just be used for calling and movies were only available on DVDs. In its first year of business, its very first customer was Engro, who deployed a single instance worth USD 70 only. Abdul Rehman Paracha, Senior Manager IS at Engro back then, expressed his delight at the occasion and said, “It gives me great joy to see Rapid come so far. I have been their customer since their inception. Thank you so much for the invite, really enjoyed the movie and the event was impressive.” He is now heading Silverlake in Pakistan. Rapid has paved the way for unlimited computing potential by introducing cloud computing in Pakistan with capabilities that allowed for faster innovation, better price, performance, and enhanced security. Rapid supports more security standards and compliance certifications than any other Pakistani cloud service provider, with ever-broadening compute, storage, memory, and networking options. “Thank you for the invitation and your hospitality. We had loads of fun and all your arrangements were spot on,” Ejaz Hassan, CEO, Wemsol stated, delighted, and equally pleased after attending the event. Being the pioneer of Cloud Computing in Pakistan, Rapid is constantly working toward integrating new products and cutting-edge features. With their recently launched product Cobolt, they are the first Pakistani cloud provider to be offering Magnum (Kubernetes as a Service) and Trover (Database as a Service). Follow Rapid to find out about the upcoming addition of new products to the Cobolt ambit. Rapid has been Pakistan’s trailblazer in offering cloud computing, networking services, and management tools for digitizing all areas of businesses and industry. It continues to be one of the largest providers of cloud services to the government, financial sector, and large-scale enterprises. For procuring Rapid’s cloud services you can get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected]. Share now on Social Media:

StormFiber has been rapidly expanding its Fiber to the Home (FTTH) footprint to provide superior quality broadband to the far reaches of the country. In its latest move, the broadband service provider has added three more cities including Gujrat, Abbottabad, and Okara to its fiber-optic coverage, taking its tally of fiberized cities to eighteen. The strong wave of digitization across the globe has compelled consumers to shift from copper-based to fiber-optic-based connectivity. This technology offers high bandwidth, scalability, and reliability, which are essential to meet the dependencies on an internet connection in today’s day and age. StormFiber has been at the forefront in its movement toward digitizing Pakistan through fiberization and currently stands as the country’s fastest-growing fiber-optic brand. Abbottabad – The City of SchoolsLocated at the heart of the famous Hazara Belt, Abbottabad serves as a critical transit point to various major tourist regions such as Nathia Gali, Naran, and Ayubia. Besides being a famous travel destination, the city also hosts several outstanding academic institutions and is often referred to as the city of schools. The availability of ultra-fast broadband will enable the citizens of Abbottabad to access global opportunities, thereby leveraging their talent to its full potential. Gujrat – The City of ValorSurrounded by cities such as Sialkot and Gujranwala, Gujrat is a central part of the golden triangle of the export economy of Pakistan. The city contributes over 98% of electrical fan manufacturing across Pakistan. The trio has been significantly contributing to the improvement of the country’s balance of trade, which is expected to accelerate through access to reliable broadband service. Okara -The City of AgricultureKnown for its fertile lands, Okara is a major contributor to the potato, tomato, sugarcane, rice, wheat, and maize produce of the country. The city holds a vital position in the agricultural sector of Pakistan and is home to fruit orchards of some of the renowned companies. StormFiber’s expansion to Okara is expected to provide greater access to digital market spaces that would propel the growth of agri-based businesses in the city. Speaking on the expansion, Fawad Laher, Managing Director, StormFiber, said, “When we started our journey of StormFiber, we had made a commitment of providing superior quality broadband services to the citizens of Pakistan, which they truly deserve.” “Expansion to these cities testify our resolution and InshaAllah, with our team’s sheer dedication and relentless efforts, we will keep striving to further our mission,” he added. Maroof Ali Shahani, COO, Cybernet, stated, “Our expansions to Gujrat, Abbottabad, and Okara are strongly aligned with our strategic mission of fiberizing the far-reaches of Pakistan.” “With the speed of digitization in the global arena, it is time Pakistan also makes high strides in this direction. Accessibility to ultra-fast broadband is pivotal to a country’s economic growth and we commit to playing our role in all possible ways in this journey,” he added. StormFiber is currently providing its fiber-optic broadband service in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, and Wah. Some sources have also hinted at possible expansion to Rahim Yar Khan, Jhelum, Sukkur, Larkana, Haripur, Mingora, and some other cities later this year. Share now on Social Media: