ISLAMABAD ( PRESS RELEASE )
VMware Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a global leader in cloud infrastructure and business mobility, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), the IT and telecommunications service provider for the Government of Pakistan, to drive digital transformation within the public sector as part of the government’s Digital Pakistan initiative and the country’s push towards a digital nation. The agreement will enable NTC, the first cloud-based data center in the public sector, to tap on VMware solutions to modernize existing IT infrastructure and accelerate network extension to unserved and underserved districts under the National Data Centre plan.
The rapid transformation of Pakistan towards a digitally enabled nation is anchored by the government’s commitment to a digital future. The government is the first in the region to transit to an e-governance model as Internet penetration in the nation skyrockets. In 2016 alone, the number of internet users in Pakistan increased by 20 per cent, double the global average growth rate.[1] The mobile-first nature of Pakistan is clearly evident with close to three in four internet users in Pakistan accessing the internet through their mobile phones, as compared to 27 percent via desktops.1
“We are determined to better serve the public by strengthening IT and telecommunications support to all government institutions. With the right infrastructure together with the best solutions, we can better provision and provide for market trends now and in the future to drive Pakistan’s digital transformation,” said Brig. (Retd) Viqar Rashid Khan, managing director, NTC.
The partnership with VMware can empower NTC to deliver rapid market-ready capabilities, reduce operational and ownership costs significantly and simplify IT management. With the modernized IT infrastructure enabled by a suite of VMware solutions including those from the VMware Cloud Provider Program, VMware vSphere® with Operations Management™, VMware vCloud Director® and VMware Site Recovery Manager™, NTC can increase the performance and efficiency of IT resources through virtualization, speed up the delivery of solutions via a cloud model, and strengthen the availability and security of critical applications.
“The government’s bold step towards a fully e-government structure is testament to the powerful benefits from a software-defined approach to IT. By implementing a ubiquitous IT architectural plan that cuts across all levels of compute, network, storage, clouds and devices, NTC stands to benefit from the scalability, agility and security required to enable Pakistan to truly succeed in the digital era,” said Adrian Hia, general manager, Nascent Markets & Vietnam, VMware.