Pakistani business communications leader Multinet is undertaking a massive network upgrade project. This initiative involves revamping their entire long-haul optical transport network, which spans over 120 cities and stretches across 14,000 kilometers within the country.

The upgrade brings a significant capacity increase to 3.2 Tbps and utilizes the Telecom Infra Project’s (TIP) Open Optical framework. Designed to enhance global connectivity, this framework makes Multinet’s project the world’s largest Open Optical implementation.

“When planning this upgrade, our priorities were agility, scalability, and sustainability,” said Adnan H. Zaidi, Multinet’s COO. “Open and disaggregated technology offered the perfect solution, representing the future of telecommunications.”

The upgrade promises several benefits for Pakistan. Multinet will be able to address the ever-growing demand for bandwidth. New cities and towns will be added to their fiber network, significantly improving data and internet access across urban, semi-urban, and rural areas. Open networks, like the one being deployed, are expected to streamline operations and accelerate innovation within the industry.

The project leverages software and hardware from industry leaders within TIP’s Open Optical ecosystem, including Edgecore, IP Infusion, and Smartoptics. Additionally, local Pakistani system integrator STARCOM Technologies (Pvt) Limited is involved. The upgrade incorporates innovative solutions like Cassini, TIP’s disaggregated coherent switch, and IP Infusion’s OcNOS network operating system. These technologies enable a smooth transition from traditional networks to open and agile ones.

“Multinet’s commitment to bringing cutting-edge technologies to Pakistan is a shining example,” said Sandeep Kohli, a Connectivity Technologies and Ecosystems Manager at Meta. “Their belief in open and disaggregated technologies makes them a trusted infrastructure partner in the region.”

Kristian Toivo, Executive Director of TIP, also commended Multinet’s leadership in adopting open technologies to drive modern connectivity solutions in Pakistan.

“This network upgrade aligns perfectly with our vision to be the recognized leader in all communications segments and markets we serve,” concluded Zaidi.