Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), the largest integrated information communication technology (ICT) company in Pakistan, and DE-CIX, a leading internet exchange (IX) operator, have announced the inauguration of what is called the ‘Pakistan Internet Exchange (PIE) powered by DE-CIX’, which is described as the first carrier- neutral IX in the country.
Housed in the PTCL data centre in Karachi, the IX is operated by DE-CIX under the DE-CIX as a service (DaaS) model and built on the company’s interconnection infrastructure.
The interconnection platform offers local peering, as well as remote access to DE-CIX Frankfurt (Germany), one of the largest IXs in the world. The DaaS programme, meanwhile, includes a set of services – such as installation, maintenance, provisioning, marketing, and sales support – designed for digital infrastructure operators to create their own IX and interconnection platform, fully operated by DE-CIX. It delivers the technical set-up needed for an internet exchange as a fully pre-configured and standardised ‘DE-CIX in a box’ solution.
As PCTL and De-CIX explain, the new IX is set to serve as a hub for regional connectivity, enabling local networks low-latency interconnection and the localisation of global content, while increasing network stability, scalability and security.
DE-CIX and PTCL signed the strategic partnership to establish an IX in Pakistan in March last year.
The company has been busy in a number of regions lately. It launched its first two internet exchanges in Mexico in November last year and also expanded its presence in Delhi in August 2023. In addition, as we reported at the time, it announced plans to establish a joint venture company called PT DE-CIX Indonesia in July last year.