PTCL set to launch ‘triple-play’ service
PTCL set to launch ‘triple-play’ service

* DSL Internet, TV channels and phone services will be provided on one line

Staff Report

LAHORE: The Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited will soon launch a ‘triple play’ service, enabling its customers to access more than 100 TV channels, digital subscriber line (DSL) Internet connection and a regular phone service on a single phone line, Daily Times learnt on Friday.

Initially, the service will be introduced in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. It will be extended to other cities in the coming years.

Sources in PTCL said the service would be introduced this year, adding that it had so far cost around Rs 3.5 billion to the company. “The triple-play service will charge PTCL customers around Rs 1,500 per month,” the sources added.

Though PTCL had already been providing DSL Internet connection in a number of exchanges across the country, the system needed to be overhauled. “The company has now overhauled its system. It has replaced copper cables with optical fibre ones to provide the best possible service to its customers,” sources said.

First we had a bombshell of an advert, with PTCL announcing 1Mbps DSL connections for Rs5,000/- unlimited downloading (no volume restrictions). This will obviously have other ISPs shaking in their boots. Sources claim that the offering will be with limited volumes when offered, but the opposition is afraid. Very afraid.
Now we have the triple play announcement below. TV, POTS voice and DSL internet access. Very difficult to compete with that!
==================================================
A PTCL official requesting anonymity, said copper cables had been laid from exchanges to telephone cabinets in the past. “Providing proper TV channels and DSL Internet services to customers requires fibre optic cables,” he said.

“The company has been working on the project for two years. Optical Network Units (ONU) have been installed in several telephone exchanges,” the official said, adding that the new service would enable PTCL customers to watch 100 to 250 TV channels.

PTCL plans to expand the service in phases across the country. During the first phase, the company will provide the service in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. The required network will be installed across the country within a year. Two Chinese companies have installed more than 350 ONUs from exchanges to telephone cabinets by replacing old copper cables with optic fibres. One optic network unit costs Rs 10 million.

PTCL Corporate Strategies Executive Vice President Zomma Mohiuddin said the company had been working on the ‘triple-play’ project for the last two years. He said the service would be extended to around 10 more cities by June 2008.

Labels: fibre optic, Infrastructure, PTCL

- posted @ Saturday, May 26, 2007

 
Iran & Pakistan sign fiber-optic connection MOU
Iran & Pakistan sign fiber-optic connection MOU
May 17, 2007 3:38 PM

Tehran, May 16, Taliya News – Managing Director of Telecom Infrastructure Company and Managing Director of Pakistan’s MTC Company signed a memorandum of understanding for connection of two countries’ fiber-optic networks her Monday.
According to IT Desk reporter of IRNA, the one million dollar project would be executed based on latest technological achievements.
The capacity of the project is declared to be 64 STM1 links.
Pakistan Embassy’s Economic Attaché in Iran Hessam Jedoun focusing on the matter said, “In order to connect its fiber-optic cable to Iran’s Pakistan has so far laid 900 kilometers of fiber-optic cable from Karachi to Gaudery Port, and from there to Giovanni Port, through the land routes.”
Pointing out that in order to connect the two countries fiber-optic networks to one another three routs have been chosen, he said, “Technician delegations of the two countries would in near future inspect those routs and the final decision on the matter would be adopted on one of them.”
Jedoun said that the first priority for fiber optic network connection between the two countries is the Giovanni-Chabahar route along path of the Iran-Pakistan road, adding, “There is also another proposal for laying them over the high voltage electricity cables.”
According to the Telecom Infrastructure Company, the 3rd proposed path, too, is along the former land border of the two countries.

Labels: fibre optic, Infrastructure

- posted @ Saturday, May 19, 2007