PTCL signs fiber leasing deal with Zong

Pakistan’s largest operator PTCL has secured a fiber leasing agreement with China Mobile’s Pakistani mobile unit Zong.

Under the agreement, PTCL will deploy 789 kilometers of fiber for Zong’s mobile network.

The fiber leasing agreement will also allow Zong to utilize PTCL’s nationwide fiber footprint, which will help the operator further expand its 3G and 4G networks nationwide.

PTCL and Zong signed a memorandum of understanding in December last year which declared PTCL as Zong’s preferred partner for infrastructure and technical expertise. PTCL has meanwhile been making efforts to position itself as the “carrier of carriers,” the report states.

Zong is Pakistan’s third largest mobile operator by subscribers with a market share of around 19% as of late 2014. China Mobile first entered the Pakistani market in 2008 by acquiring an operating license from Millicom, and holds a 100% stake in Zong Pakistan.