Pak Datacom Limited (PDL) has increased its satellite bandwidth utilisation eightfold over the past year as demand for reliable and high-capacity connectivity continues to grow across Pakistan. The company currently serves around 550 major government, financial and corporate institutions, while its satellite network is undergoing modernisation to support increasing connectivity requirements across different sectors. A company spokesperson said the rise in demand has accelerated the deployment of High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology, additional bandwidth capacity and multiple satellite platforms.
The modernisation of PDL’s satellite network has also been influenced by changes in the availability of legacy satellite infrastructure. Following the end of life and closure of PAKSAT-1R services, the company moved toward HTS technology after the Standard-Ku Band capacity required by PDL was not available on MM1. The transition has enabled the company to adopt additional satellite platforms and move beyond some of the capacity limitations associated with older Ku Band infrastructure.
PDL has also expanded its arrangement with Yahsat, which has been in place since 2016. According to the company spokesperson, Yahsat services have operated in Pakistan for several years under the applicable legal and regulatory framework. More than 4,000 Yahsat links are currently operating through multiple service providers, including more than 1,000 government links. The scale of these connections reflects the role satellite-based services continue to play in providing connectivity to government and institutional users in areas where conventional infrastructure can be difficult to deploy.
The company has adopted a multi-band and multi-platform strategy covering C-Band, Ku-Band and Ka-Band. Its HTS platforms include Yahsat and Kacific, with the selection of satellite capacity based on customer requirements. PDL said the approach is helping address the limitations of legacy Ku infrastructure while providing more scalable connectivity for organisations with different bandwidth and coverage needs. The use of multiple bands and satellite platforms also allows the company to accommodate connectivity requirements across different operating environments.
Security has remained another component of PDL’s satellite connectivity services. The company spokesperson said its network uses technologies and controls including virtual private networks, GRE tunnelling, firewalls, encryption, authentication and access controls. These measures are intended to support secure connections between remote locations and customer networks, particularly for institutional users that require protected communications infrastructure for their operations.
PDL has also demonstrated its satellite connectivity capabilities in challenging geographical locations. Among the examples highlighted by the company is connectivity provided for the world’s highest-altitude ATM at Khunjerab Pass in Gilgit-Baltistan. The ATM is located at an altitude of around 15,396 feet and has been recognised by Guinness World Records. The deployment demonstrates the use of satellite connectivity in areas where terrain and geographic conditions can create significant challenges for conventional communications infrastructure.
Beyond satellite services, PDL is expanding its telecommunications infrastructure through fibre. Following the acquisition of its Fixed Line License (FLL), the company has started work to extend its fibre network in key areas across Pakistan. The expansion is expected to support high-speed connectivity while also creating direct and indirect employment opportunities as additional infrastructure is deployed and associated services develop.
The company said its network modernisation and infrastructure expansion programme is continuing under the oversight of its Board of Directors and management. PDL’s strategy combines satellite, fibre and other advanced telecommunications technologies to provide connectivity across different customer segments and locations. With satellite bandwidth utilisation rising substantially over the past year, the company is continuing to expand capacity and infrastructure in response to demand for secure, reliable and uninterrupted connectivity across Pakistan.
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