Internet Exchange (IX) operator DE-CIX and integrated ICT company from Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), have partnered to launch the ‘Pakistan Internet Exchange (PIE) Karachi powered by DE-CIX.’ With the inauguration of the nation’s first carrier-neutral IX, Pakistan has taken a big step in strengthening its standing in the international digital economy.
The PIE, which is well situated in the Karachi data center of PTCL, is run by DE-CIX using its DE-CIX as a Service (DaaS) business model. It makes use of DE-CIX’s well-known interconnection infrastructure. The new exchange provides remote connectivity to DE-CIX Frankfurt in Germany, one of the biggest IXs in the world, as well as local network peering. Its main functions include enabling low-latency interconnections, localizing worldwide content, and supporting network security, scalability, and stability at the regional level.
Dr. Umar Saif, the Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, highlighted Pakistan’s growing digital market at the inauguration event. The country has more Internet users than Italy. He emphasized the recent developments in fiber connection across the nation, such as the two fiber loops built by PTCL that go from Kashgar to Rawalpindi and then on to Karachi. The inclusion of several submarine cables that land in Karachi has improved the country’s connectivity profile considerably.
Dr. Saif went into more detail on the new IX’s financial potential. DE-CIX is a tier 1 IX operator. He further mentioned the prospect of smoothly routing material from well-known platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and TikTok to other markets, as well as the possibility of local hosting of this content. With the potential to bring in $200–400 million a year in transit traffic income, this program places Pakistan as a regional center for digital connection and makes a significant economic contribution to the country.
Attracting ISPs and CSPs
The PTCL & Ufone 4G Group Chief Business Solutions Officer, Zarrar Hasham Khan, was enthusiastic about the partnership with DE-CIX and emphasized how important it is to the development of Pakistan’s digital infrastructure. He emphasized the benefits of this relationship for improving Internet experiences and enabling local hosting of foreign material, as well as PTCL’s dedication to digitization. It is anticipated that this partnership would promote digital enablement and quicken the development of Pakistan’s digital economy.
One of Asia’s most populated nations, Pakistan, has a rapidly increasing Internet consumption rate; as a result, local connectivity is necessary, as noted by Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX. Mr. Ivanov claims that the PIE would enable Pakistan’s extraordinary Internet connectivity to realize its full economic potential. He underlined that the IX would draw more foreign cloud and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to Pakistan, resulting in the development of a strong local digital ecosystem. Ivanov emphasized DE-CIX‘s dedication to provide reliable, reliable, fast, and consistent Internet access, guaranteeing a seamless digital experience for companies and end users across Pakistan.
DE-CIX in a Box
The potential influence of the PIE would be shown by the success of UAE-IX in Dubai, which is powered by DE-CIX. In the last twelve years, UAE-IX has become a major global Internet center. DE-CIX’s DaaS program offers a range of services, such as marketing, sales support, provisioning, installation, and maintenance. The purpose of it is to enable operators of digital infrastructure to set up their own interconnection platforms and IXs, which will be completely under the control of DE-CIX. The ‘DE-CIX in a box’ solution facilitates a smooth digital transition by offering an Internet Exchange with a pre-configured and standardized technical architecture.
With the promise of improved connectivity, economic development, and a strong digital ecosystem, the launch of the Pakistan Internet Exchange, powered by DE-CIX, is a revolutionary milestone in Pakistan’s digital journey. This project would establish Pakistan as a major force in the regional digital market.
