StormFiber, powered by Cybernet, has officially launched its services in Chitral, marking a significant milestone as its 25th city in Pakistan. This expansion underscores the company’s commitment to bridging the digital divide by bringing high-speed fiber-optic internet to remote regions.
“Chitral’s launch is a step towards an inclusive digital future,” said Fawad Laher, Managing Director of StormFiber. “We aim to empower communities and open doors to new opportunities in education, healthcare, e-commerce, and entrepreneurship in the region.”
One of the cornerstones of StormFiber’s mission, “Built in Pakistan, Building Pakistan,” reflects its dedication to fostering local talent and driving nationwide digital transformation. By extending high-speed internet to Chitral, a region known for its rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes, StormFiber empowers residents to access global learning resources, participate in digital marketplaces, and engage in remote professional opportunities.
This launch highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to create a digitally inclusive Pakistan. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology and connecting communities, StormFiber continues to play a vital role in fostering growth, innovation, and long-term sustainable development across the country.
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So when are they going to Expand beyond a Handful of Posh Areas in the 2nd Biggest City of Pakistan -Lahore-..? Its been a decade and they still only operate in Posh areas never even tried to Provide Blanked coverage in on of the biggest Metropolis of Pakistan. bus new Cities add krte jao with launching just in a handful of Localities.
Har mohallay ka NOC tum laa k de do in ko phir dekho sab k gharon mein fiber laga hoga
It’s easy to complain about this online without realizing why even the biggest ISPs aren’t able to expand to certain areas.
I can Guarantee you that The more Posh a Society is the more NOC and Hurdles it creates for ISPs like Stormfiber, PTCL and Nayatel. but These companies work with Them to Lay fiber in those areas first. So this is not as big of an excuse as these companies(and you) are trying to make it to be. evidence. the areas that these Fiber Companies Cover on priority basis refutes this claim of NOCs.
I live in an area which is not Posh and it does not require any Permits for these big ISPs. a fact that has been confirmed by both Society’s Office and Local PTCL Exchange Staff as well.
but no Fiber company even tries to lay fiber here Just because they deem this area as backwards. whereas it’s considered within Lahore’s Center nowaday. I can give you countless examples of all such areas where there’s no NOC required of any sort but these company just don’t care to expand cuz they consider these areas as “Ghettos and backwards”. They just can’t wrap their Heads around the fact that Less Opulent areas are generally More densely packed with Population hence more Potential customers.
Again, it’s easy to complain online and say the companies won’t expand to less affluent areas because they think they won’t get any customers from there. Great way to pull the victim card, a classic move by our awaam. Blame others rather than looking at the root cause of the problem.
It has always been NOC/permission related. You can’t even take a breath in this country nowadays without getting a stamped, attested, biometric verified letter allowing you to do so.
Here in Rawalpindi, especially in the older parts of the city that are not considered ‘posh’, there are endless hurdles to ISP expansion. Govt officials and even PTCL exchange staff will make it a living hell for any teams trying to lay fiber there. Their vehicles are vandalized and fiber cables are deliberately cut to cause frequent disruptions. I’ve heard this first hand from installers of Nayatel and StormFiber here.
Not sure which area in Lahore you’re referring to that is allowing ISPs to expand without NOC because I have never heard of such a thing anywhere in this country. Almost everywhere, NOC is required and if not, then the management of that area/township will ask for bribes from the ISPs before being allowed to lay fiber. Nobody in Pakistan is that kind that they will freely allow any ISP to expand in their area/township without filling their own pockets first.
To address your point of “They just can’t wrap their Heads around the fact that Less Opulent areas are generally More densely packed with Population hence more Potential customers.” – Have you ever spoken to anyone from ISP sales to see their view of this? It’s not as simple as you’re making it out to be.
Lastly, have you forgotten about the Bahria Town CCP case? For over 10 years, we had to endure PTCL’s pathetic DSL service with ancient copper lines that couldn’t even support over 8 Mbps because Bahria had an unofficial agreement with PTCL that prevented any other ISP from expanding here. I used to curse Nayatel every day and ask them why they wouldn’t expand to the street that I lived on but they refused saying it’s not allowed.
I’m sure Nayatel and StormFiber and whoever else thought that Bahria was very ghetto and backwards and that’s why they didn’t expand here for over 10 years, despite them being available in the area next door which was less than 1 kilometer away.
Look Mr. Murtaza Saeed. You keep on saying that but refuse to see the other side. I’m not Talking in the air when I say that I can point to areas where no NOC is required. but PTCL or Any other fiber Company just Refuse on the basis that they deem that area as backwards.
I’ll repeat that I live in an area which is an example of Such case. where PTCL continuously comes to fix their Copper ADSL wire which mind you is quite thick one. and The PTCL Personnel who come regularly to fix that giant wire has told me that there are more than 1000 connection in that Mohallah alone. Now the Question Arises why aren’t they laying Fiber Instead? There’re 1000+ Potential Customers. Demand is right there.
They face similar Problems of Fiber cutting and Society NOCs in the areas where they are already providing Fiber. But these companies were willing to Negotiate with most of those Societies. but not in the likes of my locality cuz you know [read my above response again].
Im not saying that NOCs aren’t the Problem. They are but They are a bigger problem, the more Posh a Society/Locality is. But all of these companies put up with it, in those localities and pay no heed to Socities like mine.
Jazz has recently connected all of their Cell sites with Fiber in Lahore and They used Nayatel for that. How come they were able to lay fiber in every nook and crany but when it comes to Home internet, There’s Excuses Galore.
I am from swabi and here still old copper wire by ptcl is available and no fiber service by nayatel stormfiber or flash fiber is exist.