PTCL Group, Pakistan’s leading telecommunications service provider, is embarking on a transformative journey in collaboration with Nokia. The aim is to revamp its nationwide optical ultra long-haul network to deliver a remarkable 15 Terabits per second (15T) capacity. This initiative sets a new standard for network scalability and performance in Pakistan.
During a grand ceremony held at GITEX Technology Week 2023 in Dubai, Jafar Khalid, Group Chief Technology & Information Officer of PTCL & Ufone 4G, and Roque Lozano, Senior Vice President of Network Infrastructure, Nokia MEA, not only announced this groundbreaking transformation but also further solidified their long-term strategic collaboration.
The partnership aims to explore future technologies and use-cases that will contribute to a sustainable digital future for the people of Pakistan.

Innovative Technology Deployment:
In recent years, PTCL Group has made significant strides in network enhancement by deploying Nokia’s advanced CD-F (Colorless, Directionless, Flex-grid) technology, allowing efficient management of nationwide transport traffic. The successful demonstration of 1 Tera per lambda in its Metro network was a testament to the progress made.
However, with the increasing demand for bandwidth-intensive applications, PTCL Group is gearing up to introduce Pakistan’s first ‘commercial deployment’ of 400G per lambda on its ultra long-haul network.
This will be achieved by utilizing Nokia’s latest CDC-F (Colorless, Directionless, Contentionless, Flex-grid) technology and 1 Tera in the metro layer using newer chipsets.
This adoption will enable PTCL Group to transmit any component of an optical signal in any color, in any direction, at any time, ensuring the highest capacity and lowest latency.
Scalability and Resilience:
The adoption of CDC-F technology is a strategic move to scale up PTCL Group’s transport network capacity to meet the evolving needs of corporate, consumer, and carrier customers.
Furthermore, it will ensure the creation of secure and resilient networks that can withstand multiple and simultaneous network failures. Guaranteeing premium connectivity even in the face of natural disasters. In addition, this future-proof architecture is well-suited to cater to PTCL’s high bandwidth forecasts.
A Sustainable Digital Future:
Jafar Khalid, Group Chief Technology & Information Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G, emphasized the importance of high-capacity solutions. He also emphasized on agile networks in today’s world of exponential data consumption.
He stated, “This transformation is also expected to result in substantial energy savings, reducing power consumption by 5,000 watts per 400G. This contributes to a greener and more sustainable network infrastructure.”
In addition to increased capacity, PTCL Group plans to introduce advanced solutions from Nokia, such as Network as a Service (NaaS), to offer bandwidth on demand and new business models to consumers.
Building Resilience and Sustainability:
Roque Lozano, Senior Vice President, Network Infrastructure, Nokia MEA, highlighted the collaborative efforts between Nokia and PTCL Group. A model for addressing the global challenge of managing exponential data growth while embracing eco-friendly practices.
He said, “This collaboration underlines our commitment to providing advanced solutions that not only enhance connectivity. But this collaboration also play a pivotal role in building an ultra-resilient, sustainable digital future for all.”
Addressing the Data Explosion:
The world is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in data generation, driven by the widespread adoption of smartphones. The Internet of Things (IoT), social media platforms, and the rapid digitalization of industries.
This surge has created an urgent need to transport ever-increasing volumes of data. A challenge that PTCL Group and Nokia are ready to tackle head-on.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, PTCL Group’s collaboration with Nokia signifies a remarkable step forward in Pakistan’s telecommunications landscape. This transformation not only promises to deliver high-capacity networks. But it also reinforces the commitment to building a more sustainable, eco-friendly digital future.
As the world grapples with the data explosion, partnerships like this one exemplify the innovation. And dedication required to meet the evolving demands of the digital age.
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