This 400G technology solves most issues because it significantly increases the data-carrying capacity of existing networks without any changes to infrastructure and can deliver up to 400 billion bits of information per second
The demand for broadband speed and volume grows exponentially with a rise in low-latency activities like virtual meetings, online gaming, video streaming, etc., there is an urgent need to deliver more data through existing fiber networks
J azz, Pakistan’s number one 4G operator and the largest internet and broadband service provider, has successfully deployed the country’s first 400G technology on its fiber-optic network. This development will greatly benefit customers with faster and higher data requirements. The increase in data capacity on this 400G network can deliver high speeds equivalent to over 180,000 HD video streams at the same time or more than 70,000 songs downloaded in a single second. Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim said: “We see that customers are increasingly using high-bandwidth applications which resultantly, put pressure on existing data networks. Our 400G technology enables us to deliver faster and more data on the existing network to meet the growing demand. Jazz is committed to developing a digital ecosystem that supports the evolving technology needs of individuals and businesses.” The demand for broadband speed and volume grows exponentially with a rise in low-latency activities like virtual meetings, online gaming, video streaming, etc., there is an urgent need to deliver more data through existing fiber networks. This 400G technology solves most issues because it significantly increases the data-carrying capacity of existing networks without any changes to infrastructure and can deliver up to 400 billion bits of information per second. While projects like smart cities take shape in the country, and emerging applications make use of technologies like VR, AR, 4K, 8K, 16K and the Internet of Things, Jazz believes that investment in more adaptive networks that foster innovation and enable the delivery of more advanced services are paramount. Jazz CTO Khalid Shehzad said: “This technology essentially allows us the freedom to provide more data at greater speeds through a programmable network that we can ramp up, like flicking a switch. Such a sustainable technology creates the basis for many subsequent developments including smart city solutions, ultra-fast internet including 5G, and further opportunities to be jointly developed with public authorities.” It is also pertinent to mention that this is not the first step that Jazz has taken to future proof its network against the growing data demand. Recently, the mobile operator successfully launched 200G technology on its long haul optical transport network and 100G on its metro networks. Jazz’s 400G network is for now carrying live customer traffic across the Lahore metro region with plans underway for further expansions. Meanwhile, Jazz remained focused on expanding its digital services with 4G capacity expansion and network roll out. In the second quarter of 2020, Jazz’s overall subscriber base grew by 5.6% yearover-year (YoY) reaching 62.8 million, 4G customer base grew by 71.5% reaching 19.1 million whereas the overall data users grew by 11.1% YoY reaching 41 million. Jazz continued network investment, with 4G base stations increasing by 17% YoY to over 10,000; 4G subscriber penetration reached 30%, alongside data usage increase of 97.9% YoY reaching 3.6 GB per user. Jazz’s self-care app, Jazz World, has crossed 6 million monthly active users, a YoY increase of 305%, making it the largest telco app in Pakistan. Jazz TV and content services (Bajao & Deikho) are also seeing encouraging momentum. According to Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz, “Our focus during the pandemic has been to ensure the provision of reliable and affordable internet service which is critical for students and businesses working from home. Going forward, we will continue to expand our 4G network while strengthening our core and digital services portfolio aimed at meeting the growing data needs of our customers.” During the reporting period, the number of monthly active JazzCash mobile wallets also continued to increase reaching 8.1 million, a YoY increase of 41%. With over 76,000 registered freelancers generating more than PKR 1.23 billion worth of transactions, JazzCash is now Pakistan’s largest financial institution for freelancers. Overall, JazzCash processed around 900 million transactions amounting to over PKR 1.7 trillion over the past 12 months.
