By Contributing Editor, Kathy Xu

Multinet Pakistan addresses the diversified communication requirements of its enterprise customers with an extensive product portfolio, a nationwide long-haul network across Pakistan, and a footprint of international points-of-presence and terrestrial extensions into neighboring countries. The company provides one-stop, total connectivity solutions and builds enduring relationships based on trust with its customers and partners.

Tarique Aslam Qureshi is the Deputy General Manager of Multinet, managing its expansion plans and global footprint, and leading the formation of business relationships with international and domestic carrier partners. Data Center POST recently had the chance to sit down with Tarique Aslam to discuss network challenges in Pakistan and across the industry, new technology initiatives by Multinet, and the company’s participation in International Telecoms Week 2018, May 6-9 in Chicago.

Data Center POST, Kathy Xu (DCP-KX) Question: What network challenges does the industry face as we head to the middle of 2018 and beyond?

Multinet Pakistan, Tarique Aslam Qureshi (MP-TAQ) Answer: The demand for capacity is acute and the progress of network expansion, especially in the long-haul and metro segments, is currently not adequate to cater to business and consumer needs.

DCP-KX Q: How important is Software-Defined Networking for the industry and what is your company doing to implement and deploy this technology capability?

MP-TAQ A: For enterprises, it is the need of the hour. We see the technology gaining a lot of traction, and have already mobilized our resources to set up strategic partnerships to enable us to effectively address the needs of the enterprise SDN market.

DCP-KX Q: What are new developments and initiatives that are exciting for your company in 2018?

MP-TAQ A: A massive rise in capacity consumption will be observed in next 12 months, which gives Multinet Pakistan an opportunity to help new customers, and to help our existing customers that much more. We are excited to be working toward introducing a range of new offerings, including Firewall as a Service, SDN, and SIEMs. We also envision implementing Artificial Intelligence and machine learning this year.

DCP-KX Q: What technologies or solutions are inhibiting growth today and how do you see innovation adapting to solve that problem?

MP-TAQ A: For remote locations, long distances bridged with wireless solutions such as radio, microwave, and satellite signals are constraining bandwidth. We are striving to reach out to such places with wired media. While it is not feasible to reach every area with optical fiber in the short term, our fiber network now covers more than 120 cities in Pakistan, and is steadily improving bandwidth across the country.

DCP-KX Q: Why is ITW such an important industry event for your company?

MP-TAQ A: ITW is by far the most suitable event for us to build relationships with the senior leadership of our current partners, and also to form new ones with prospective partners.

DCP-KX Q: Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today, and best wishes at ITW 2018!

To learn more about Multinet Pakistan, visit multinet.com.pk. To request a meeting with Multinet Pakistan during ITW, please click here.