The two have entered into a partnership to deploy new fibre networks to serve as the backbone infrastructure for 4G/5G mobile and fixed broadband, across eight major cities in the country.
Under the partnership, Nayatel will own, build, maintain, and operate the new fibre network and provide wholesale capacity to mobile operators and ISPs, while Facebook will invest in the fibre build and support network planning.
Wahaj us Siraj, CEO, Nayatel said: “We’re excited for this first-ever partnership of a Pakistani company with Facebook to expand fibre broadband to bring high-speed internet to millions of customers”.
Siraj continued: “This collaboration will accelerate the government’s vision of digital Pakistan by increasing productivity for small and medium businesses, creating new job opportunities and online learning for the youth. The partnership demonstrates confidence from a leading global brand like Facebook in Pakistan’s tech and entrepreneurial potential and we sincerely hope that the government will implement fast track reforms with predictable regulations and policies to attract more foreign investors in the tech sector”.
Nayatel said the project, due for completion in 2022, will connect "thousands of sites", improving capacity and the geographical reach of internet access to approximately 10 to 15 million people.
“We’re proud to partner with Nayatel as part of our efforts to bring fast and reliable internet connectivity to people around the world, including in Pakistan,” said Tom Varghese, head of connectivity and access policy, Asia Pacific, Facebook.
“We look forward to working with Nayatel to enable more open-access fibre infrastructure and note that a progressive and collaborative regulatory environment will help to attract further investments to improve internet connectivity in Pakistan.”
