Pakistan aims for gigabit future with national broadband summit

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority recently convened the National Broadband Network Summit under the theme “Gigabit For All,” aiming to significantly boost the country’s digital economy by enhancing optical broadband deployment. This summit brought together key players from both the government and the telecommunications industry, focusing on strategies to improve the penetration rate of optical broadband across the nation.

During the summit, attendees reached a consensus on various initiatives to expand optical broadband services, including proposed policies and regulations regarding rights of way (ROW), public infrastructure sharing, and tax incentives. A notable goal emerged for Islamabad to become Pakistan’s first gigabit city within the next five years. Feng Zhishan, President of Huawei’s Optical Access Domain, highlighted Huawei’s intent to collaborate with industry partners, emphasising the need for continuous innovation to enhance optical broadband availability and improve user experience. In his keynote address, he stated, “Huawei is looking forward to working with industry partners to make continuous innovations to expand optical broadband coverage.”

The importance of fibre broadband infrastructure was likened to that of highways and railways, asserting it as a critical component of both the economy and society. It serves as a fundamental driver of the digital economy and the services of operators, playing a vital role in national economic development, employment, and structural innovation within industries. Research from the World Bank indicates that a 10% increase in broadband penetration correlates with an average GDP growth rate of 1.38%. Mr. Feng pointed out that improved optical networks could particularly benefit Pakistan’s agricultural sector. Drawing on China’s agricultural e-commerce success, he noted that such networks could facilitate live streaming of agricultural products, thereby enhancing farmers’ revenues and creating jobs in rural areas.

Pakistan’s telecommunications sector has been experiencing rapid growth, with a notable increase in demand for digital services and connectivity. According to insights presented at the summit, the fibre broadband penetration rate has risen sharply, thanks in part to supportive regulatory policies and proactive infrastructure development by service operators. The number of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) users saw an increase exceeding 80% year-on-year, with advancements such as fibre-to-the-roof (FTTR) and 400G technologies now in commercial use.

Highlighting the phases of global fibre broadband development, Mr. Feng delineated three distinct stages: fibre coverage, bandwidth acceleration, and experience enhancement. In the first phase, he emphasised the significance of efficient and economically viable FTTH deployment, which demands careful planning and innovative solutions. He mentioned that Huawei’s QuickConnect Optical Distribution Network (ODN) solutions have been implemented effectively in Nairobi, Kenya, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, aiding in economic development and digital equality.

The second phase involves bandwidth acceleration, where many operators in Pakistan currently utilise GPON and XGS-PON devices capable of accessing broadband speeds of 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps. However, service packages tend to offer significantly lower speeds. Mr. Feng recommended that operators consider network upgrades to provide enhanced bandwidth. The FlexPON+ solution, developed by Huawei, allows operators to upgrade GPON to 10G PON with minimal investment, which has previously led to revenue increases for operators in other countries.

The third phase, experience improvement, focuses on ensuring a fast and ubiquitous Wi-Fi experience through FTTR networking. This technology positions operators to provide advanced services such as smart home controls and cloud computing, allowing for comprehensive home networking solutions. Successful implementations, such as those by Oi Brazil with Huawei’s technology, have showcased significant advancements in home broadband market competitiveness.

In addition to consumer access, the summit underscored the necessity of robust optical transport networks for backbone and metropolitan transmission, likening these systems to digital highways for national connectivity. Huawei continues to collaborate with industry partners in Pakistan to develop future-ready optical networks characterised by high speeds and low latency.

Concluding his address, Mr. Feng proclaimed that the forthcoming decade is poised to be pivotal for digital infrastructure development in Pakistan, with an urgent focus on fibre coverage and bandwidth enhancements. He called for the formulation of supportive policies backed by financial resources to propel fibre broadband advancements. Huawei anticipates significant partnerships for innovations in network and service advancements, aiming to support Pakistan’s transition to a gigabit society.

Source: Noah Wire Services