COMSATS Internet Services (CIS) and NERA Telecommunications (Pakistan) (Pvt.) Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore cooperation in advanced technology solutions, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and embedded technologies, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). The MoU was signed at NERA’s country office in Islamabad by CIS Chief Operating Officer Nasir Jamal Khan and NERA Country Head Ziaad Aslam Khan, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations, according to a press release issued on Monday.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will explore potential business opportunities and hold discussions on providing microwave equipment and services, cybersecurity solutions, and other technology-related services in Pakistan. The parties also intend to explore offering these solutions to the Pakistan Navy and to other government sectors, including information technology and educational institutions in the Federal areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). The MoU lists the Internet of Things, AI, and embedded technology solutions as priority areas. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to entering into discussions and negotiations on the opportunities covered, which means the agreement is a framework for talks and not a contract to deliver specific products or services.
NERA is headquartered in Singapore and has been listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) Mainboard since 1999. According to the press release, it has a presence across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and works as a technology integrator delivering turnkey solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency. CIS specialises in internet infrastructure, data centres, and information technology products and services, including virtual private servers, domain registration, website hosting, server colocation, and rack space, along with internet research and development activities. The release says the partnership builds on each organisation’s expertise in internet infrastructure, information technology, and integrated technology solutions.
CIS has a long history in Pakistan’s internet sector. It is a project of COMSATS, an intergovernmental science organisation, and began operating in 1996, when it launched internet services in the country as one of the earliest internet service providers. APP reported in August that CIS runs its own data centre infrastructure and counts embassies, the Pakistan Army, and the Pakistan Navy among its clients, and that cybersecurity is a central part of its services. That background helps explain why the MoU names government sectors and the Navy as potential customers. The press release does not give a timeline, a value for any future business, or details of specific products, so the next stage will depend on the talks that both sides have committed to holding.
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