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!
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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

 
Qatar Telecom buys Burraq
Qatar Telecom makes first acquisition in Pakistan
Web posted at: 4/26/2007 0:24:16
Source ::: REUTERS

DUBAI • Qatar Telecommunications Co (Qtel) said yesterday it agreed to buy a telecom operator in Pakistan, its first in the country, as it seeks to expand outside its home base where it is losing its monopoly.

State-controlled Qtel and Saudi Arabia's A A Turki Corp for Trading and Contracting (Atco) agreed to buy 75 per cent of Pakistan's Burraq Telecom for $12.3m, the companies said in a statement. The deal still needs regulatory approval.

Burraq Telecom offers international calling, wireless telephone and broadband Internet services, according to its website.

"The price is very reasonable to access to the Pakistani market, which is a fast-growing market with huge potential," said Marc Hammoud, a telecom analyst at Dubai-based investment bank Shuaa Capital. "They can do a quick return on investment on this." Pakistan is Asia's fourth-most populous country.

As competition has risen at home, Gulf Arab telecom operators have been hunting for foreign assets. Asia is a top priority, Hammoud said.

Emirates Telecommunications Corp (Etisalat) bought a 26 per cent stake in Pakistan Telecommunication Co Ltd for $2.6bn in 2005, and this year started a telecom software unit in India. Qtel is expanding outside Qatar as the Gulf Arab state prepares to sell a second mobile phone licence this year, ending the last Arab monopoly. Qatar will also sell a second fixed-line licence

Labels: fibre, Infrastructure, MergersAndAcquisitions

- posted @ Thursday, April 26, 2007

 
Worldcall bidding for Saudi Licence
Worldcall has serious problems running ISPs and Voice over cable in Karachi, is it really going to be able to run a Telco in Saudi Arabia?

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10 consortia in race for Saudi landline licence
(PTI)

12 March 2007



DUBAI — Ten consortia led by international firms, including India's MTNL, are competing for Saudi Arabia's second landline phone licence, which




will break the monopoly of Saudi Telecom Company in the middle east's largest telecom market.

"The Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has received applications from 10 consortia in response to the request forms issued on October 24, 2006," a CITC statement said.

Saudi Telecom has about four million fixed line customers in the country with a population of nearly 27 million.

"During the coming weeks, STC will study and evaluate the applications, based on the criteria specified in the request for applications (RFA)," Sultan Al Malik, a spokesman of the commission, told Arab News.

The 10 consortia include Al Shola (MTNL India), Khaled Ahmed Al Juffali Co (WorldCall Telecom of Pakistan), Makkah Telecom (China Telecom), and Bayanat (Korea Telecom).
Others in the fray are Optical Communications Company (Verizon), Saudi Telecom Holding (Qtel-Atco), Al Mutakamilah (Hong Kong's PCCW), Electronet (Autelia of Italy), Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) and Atheeb Telecom (Batelco of Bahrain). Indian companies are also vying for Saudi Arabia's third mobile license, which is expected to generate SR20 billion for the Kingdom.

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Tuesday, March 13, 2007

 
PAKISTAN’S FIRST WiMAX NETWORK DEPLOYED BY DANCOM
Press Release:
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Dancom would like to take this opportunity to proudly announce the first commercially available WiMAX based services in Pakistan, the WiMAX based broadband network is planned to be deployed nationwide. In our first phase we are making the product commercially available in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan and Faisalabad. In phase 2 Quetta, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Sialkot and remaining cities will also have the service availability. This will be a huge milestone in Dancom History whose playing key role in implementing state of the art technology in Pakistan and bringing the Pakistani market and users closer to the world’s leading technology.

Dancom, a major telecom company in Pakistan with its reach in over 150 cities, 74 offices nationwide and more than 5,000 employees is a subsidiary of DANCOM MALAYSIA with its Head office in Kuala Lampur Malaysia. After the launch of LL and LDI services, DANCOM WiMAX network would be the next step towards the development of the most technologically advanced nationwide scalable access network which will be complemented with Dancom’s Largest DSL deployment in the country. Dancom has built a strong reputation for carrier grade, mission critical networks to serve the public sector. DANCOM has selected REDMAX products, which incorporates the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5116 WiMAX Modem Silicon, is the worlds first WiMAX products chosen for large scale telecommunications networks. Redline’s REDMAX system is also the world’s first WiMAX forum certified TM solution to deliver the mission critical elements operators need to enable the profitable delivery of revenue generating fixed and nomadic wireless broadband services. The REDMAX product line is currently the most widely commercially deployed WiMAX certified line in the world.

Delivering on the promise of WiMAX today we as DANCOM have completed the first phase of its introduction of RedMAX AN100U base station and Outdoor Subscriber Unit (SU-O). Together, these first RedMAX products form the world’s first WiMAX Forum Certified network. Our first phase is now enabling to deliver on the promise of WiMAX today, to quickly deliver services to enterprise, SOHO and residential users, and realize a rapid return on their investment. By choosing WiMAX products today, operators have a first-to-market advantage, with the ability to quickly establish a customer base and gain significant market share.

The complete system is based on time division duplexing, or TDD, which offers better spectral efficiency and IP traffic management then FDD (frequency division duplexing). The first phase of deployment includes the introduction of the Management Suite which delivers an open architecture for third party integration and management, and seamless incorporation with operators’ existing OSS for true carrier-class networks.

2nd PHASE: Personal Broadband Everywhere we are now also planning to execute phase 2, delivering the features and components for WiMAX networks that will enhance fixed services, enable portable applications and support an open architecture. The plug-and-play Indoor Subscriber Unit (SU-I) will accelerate network and revenue growth, and will be compatible with emerging 802.16-2005 networks via a software upgrade. Next, Redline will introduce its Distributed Antenna Systems, which offer a cost-effective solution that extends service coverage to reach more customers, enabling operators to leverage their initial investment.

The need for ubiquitous coverage in mobile environments will enforce the requirement for tight frequency reuse, which is necessary to provide large capacity. Phase 3 will see the introduction of advanced physical layer technologies, including multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) and AAS (Advanced Antenna System), which implement spatial-division-multiplexing (SDMA) for capacity-limited environments, and MIMO/AAS-based link budget enhancements for situations in which coverage is the chief constraint.

DANCOM delivers a clear value proposition for Corporate Users. This is a clearly articulated roadmap which will guide organizations through the expected WiMAX market evolution, from stationary broadband services to fully mobile service offerings

Labels: Infrastructure, Wireless

- posted @ Monday, February 26, 2007

 
Telekom Malaysia unit secures 40 mln usd deals from Telenor Pakistan
12.12.06, 12:44 AM ET

KUALA LUMPUR (XFN-ASIA) - Telekom Malaysia Bhd said its unit Multinet Pakistan Pte Ltd has entered into capacity supply and service contracts with Telenor Pakistan.

The total value of the two contracts is estimated to be 40 mln usd, it said, adding that the contracts are for 20 years.

Telekom Malaysia controls 78 pct stake in Multinet Pakistan via TM international Sdn Bhd.

In a statement, Telekom Malaysia said the capacity contract will enable Telenor to utilise fibre optic cable pairs and associated co-location facilities along Multinet Pakistan's national long haul optical fibre transmission network.

Multinet will also provide maintenance and associated services to Telenor under the service contract, it added.

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Wednesday, December 13, 2006

 
TWA signs up Worldcall
KARACHI: Transworld Associates Private Limited (TWA), Pakistan’s first private undersea fiber optic cable operator, recently signed a contract with WorldCall Broadband Limited (WBL) for lease of WorldCall’s high quality metro fiber.

The contract warrants 117 kilometers of fiber cable laying and subsequent maintenance by WarldCall. The contract was signed by Tanvir Ahmed, managing director WorldCall Group, and Kamran Malik, President & COO of TWA, at TWA’s headquarters. Senior executives of both companies were also present on the occasion.

TWA has selected WorldCall as its access network partner for carrying international bandwidth from TWA’s state-of-the-art landing station in Karachi to all major financial, commercial, and other destinations by utilizing WorldCall’s metro fiber.

Kamran Malik commented, "Using a state-of-the-art network with DWDM technology, the TWA-1 cable system will achieve an ultimate capacity of more than 1.28 terabits per second. The system is designed in such a way as to provide maximum resilience and unmatched flexibility to its customers. The goal is to provide quality bandwidth to Pakistani customers at affordable rates and the system is planned to be in service by end of May."

Transworld Associates is a joint venture between two highly respected regional corporations - Saif Group of Pakistan and Orascom Telecom Holdings (OTH) of Egypt.

Etisalat and Omantel are Transworld’s landing partners in Fujairah, UAE, and Seeb, Oman respectively and will provide connectivity from thereon. Tyco Telecom, a pioneer in undersea communications technology, is the contractor for the project.

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Thursday, April 06, 2006

 
Pakistan can be part of Trans-Asian European cable
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan could be part of the existing TAE (Trans-Asian European) cable or any other consortium being planned by Azerbaijan in the telecommunication sector.

Talking with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Communication and Information Technologies Ali Abasov Pakistan’s Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said Pakistan could be part of the existing TAE (Trans-Asian European) cable or any other consortium being planned by Azerbaijan but the usage rates being charged for traffic on TAE were expensive for the operators which would instead prefer using the two submarine cables Pakistan was already linked to.

He said Pakistan could also serve as a corridor for central Asian region because of its reliable and cheaper international connectivity. He said Pakistan was about to be linked with India through optic fibre while two additional submarine cables were also being brought to Pakistan within the next six months from UAE by Wateen and Orascom groups respectively.

Pakistan agreed to provide technical input and expertise to Azerbaijan to help introduce deregulation in the monopolistic telecom sector of the Central Asian state.

Labels: fibre optic, Infrastructure

- posted @ Saturday, February 25, 2006

 
SMW3 dead again. SMW4 to the rescue.
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Undersea fibre optic cable is damaged
From Azfar-ul-Ashfaque

23 February 2006


KARACHI — Pakistan's first undersea fibre optic cable, Seamewe-3, was damaged yesterday morning causing interruption in the country's Internet and voice traffic. However, there was no breakdown in any part of the country, as the recently-commissioned submarine cable, Seamewe-4, was fully operational.

“At about 8:30am, a fault developed in the Semewe-3 and within no time the internet and other traffic shifted automatically to Seamewe-4. Our engineers located the fault in between Gulbai and Paracha Chowk areas. They are working to repair the fault and everything will be normalised by night,” said a spokesman of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).

He claimed that neither any breakdown in terms of Internet traffic occurred nor there was any congestion in voice or internet traffic, as Pakistan has another operational link Seamewe-4, which connects the country with the world.

The cable got damaged due to development work being carried out at Lyari Expressway and officials believed that the use of heavy machinery and shovels damaged the cable.

Besides having a limited satellite backup, Pakistan has two undersea fibre optic links.

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Friday, February 24, 2006

 
Diallog
Diallog, a CDMA based WLL service, is here. Seems to have started in Islamabad first. It is unclear where else they have coverage or even planned coverage.

The company is Great Bear International Pvt Ltd.

Pricing is a very expensive Rs6 or Rs7 per MB for internet access. This is not a mobile phone, so why is the internet access so expensive?
There are several packages proposed, but no pricing on the web site.

Interesting point: the CEO and GM Marketing are both from Belarus. They used to work for BelCel and the Diallog website, logo etc are copies of that company. See http://www.belcel.by/en/

Belarus has only 2 operators. One GSM (Velcom, with really bad coverage) one CDMA (our very own BelCel). There are villages in Pakistan with more than that. Should be interesting to see how these people do.

Labels: Infrastructure, Wireless

- posted @ Thursday, January 05, 2006

 
Mirror for Internet F-root name server deployed in Karachi
Apnic has been deploying root name servers in geographically diverse locations. It looks like its now Pakistans turn. This is the first root name server deployed in Pakistan and should bring improvements in speed and reliability to internet users in Pakistan, or at least to those using Cybernet. The utility will only be spread out to everyone if there is peering between the ISPs.

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by MASROOR AFZAL PASHA

KARACHI (December 15 2005): The Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) has deployed a mirror of the Internet F-root name server, which becomes operational in Karachi from Wednesday.

This is the first "root name server" deployed in Pakistan and would bring significant improvements in speed and reliability to Internet users in Pakistan and the surrounding region.

The APNIC is one of the five regional Internet registries currently operating in the world and provides allocation and registration services that support the operation of the Internet globally. APNIC provides Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to network operators in the Asia-Pacific region.

APNIC has co-ordinated deployment with Cyber Internet Services (CyberNet) and Internet Software Consortium (ISC).

The installation of the root server in Karachi has been made possible by the Internet Service Provider Association of Pakistan (ISPAK), with financial and logistical support from APNIC as well as hosting support by the CyberNet along with transit services.

The root servers are a critical part of the Internet's domain name system (DNS), providing information about authoritative servers for the many top-level domains like "(dot com), (dot org), (dot pk), and (dot uk).

The computers need this information to interpret URLs, e-mail addresses and perform other types of Internet transactions.

APNIC Director General Paul Wilson hoped that deployment of this root name server in Pakistan would bring the total number of root DNS servers in the Asia-Pacific region to 26, 18 of which have been made possible with the APNIC's support.

Pakistan is at the forefront of a rapid revolutionary change encompassing information technology and telecommunications, he added.

Recently, "Pakistan has observed significant growth in this sector with double and even triple-digit growth on year-on-year basis," he said. A significant contributor to this endeavour, CyberNet, has maintained its momentum towards progressive technologies with the commitment to serve the Internet community.

Such feat of CyberNet is being achieved through the transit provisioning of the mentioned root name server, substantially improving the Internet experience in Pakistan, he added.

This pioneering organisation had always played its due role, in conjunction with the international groups and domestic organisations, as a proactive promoter of Internet usage, while dynamically improving the delivery of its nation-wide services, Paul said.

He also said, "The deployment of this root name server in Pakistan is a positive example of Internet community co-ordination. The installation has involved the private sector, not-for-profit organisations and government bodies working together to improve DNS stability and Internet response times for developing countries in South Asia."

ISPAK President Ansar-ul-Haq said, "This root server will improve the Internet service in the country and save browsing time.

He said in case of outage the Web sites remain operational in the country and will not affect the Web-based services.


Copyright Business Recorder, 2005

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Saturday, December 17, 2005

 
Telecard provides VNO services to other carriers
Lowering the barriers to entry...

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KARACHI, December 13 (Online): Telecard is now providing Virtual Network Operator (VNO) services to other carriers in Pakistan.

Telecard, which is fulfilling the role of the alternate telecom service provider has commenced providing VNO services to other carriers, said a release issued here on Monday.

It means the other carriers can utilize the Telecard infrastructure backbone to provide telecom related information communication facilities including long distance and international calling card, PCO, WLL and BWA for voice and data to their respective customers.

By providing such services Telecard is playing its due role in the reduction of the digital divide and spreading the benefits of information and communication technologies to the people of Pakistan.

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Wednesday, December 14, 2005

 
Firm violates fiber optic contract with Pakistan Railways
Typical DAWN report. No names, finger pointing gossip.

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Firm violates contract with Pakistan Railways
KARACHI: Firm violates contract with Pakistan Railways

By Our Staff Reporter


KARACHI, Dec 13: A fibre optic line is being laid by a private firm along the railway track in contravention of the agreement reached between the firm and the Pakistan Railways, it was reliably learnt on Tuesday.

Well-placed sources in the PR said that an agreement was reached between a private company and the railways about laying a fibre optic line along the railway line between the Drigh and City railway stations.

According to map specifications, the line would be laid 5-ft deep from ground level and 120 yards away from the railway tracks.

The design and specification was approved after physical inspection by the Federal Government Inspector of Railway (FJIR). The map specification was handed over to the Karachi Division office of the department concerned and the original map was kept at the PR headquarters in Lahore.

However, the sources said that the map went missing in Karachi and the work was initiated on a photocopy of the map specification, which showed that the private firm was allowed to lay a fibre optic line along the railway tracks from Drigh Station to Keamari and Wazir Mansion Railway Station.

Work on laying the fibre optic cable was in progress and the line was being laid hardly 2-ft deep from ground level while it was exposed at some places, the sources claimed, adding that laying of any kind of line along the tracks was strictly prohibited according to rules and regulations of the Pakistan Railways. The only line – for train signalling system – was allowed to be laid a few feet away from the tracks, they maintained.

The sources said that the private firm had deposited a fee for laying the line from Drigh Station to City Station, and it had been laying the line up to Wazir Mansion in violation of the agreement causing loss to the PR’s exchequer.

They said that the matter had been brought to the notice of the railway headquarters in Lahore but no action had been taken so far.

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Wednesday, December 14, 2005

 
Warid wins licence in Bangladesh
Farid Ahmed, Dhaka: The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has decided to award the country's sixth mobile phone operation licence to Warid Telecom International LLC of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The 40th board meeting of the regulatory commission approved the offer from Warid, a concern of UAE's Dhabi Group, the New Age daily reported Tuesday.

Omniah of Jordan was the other bidder competing for the licence, but its offer was not accepted.

Dhabi group, the owner of Warid, had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Board of Investment in September to invest around $1 billion in various sectors in the country including telecom, tourism and pharmaceuticals.

The regulatory commission had invited proposals on Oct 5 from Bangladeshi companies, joint ventures with local partners or overseas companies with 100 percent foreign investment to set up, maintain and operate GSM telephony for general public use.

The objective of the invitation was to ensure reasonably priced, reliable, competitive and market-based mobile phone environment with a view to improving teledensity in the country.

"The commission will award the licence to the company after finalising the procedures," said the official.

The licence will be given for an initial period of 15 years, covering the entire country. After that, it may be renewed by the commission subject to satisfactory performance.

Warid in 2003 bought a GSM mobile licence in Pakistan through auction for $291 million.

Currently, there are around 7.5 million mobile users in Bangladesh provided for by five mobile operators - GrameenPhone, Aktel, BanglaLink, CityCell and the state-owned Teletalk. Industry insiders said that Bangladesh was likely to see around 17 million subscribers by the end of 2007

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Wednesday, December 07, 2005

 
TWA Cable from Karachi to UAE completed.
e-marine lays new cable linking UAE- Pakistan

Dec 6, 2005 - 08:02 -

Abu Dhabi, 06 Dec. 05 (WAM)-- Emirates Telecommunications & Marine Services FZE- e-marine- a subsidiary of Etisalat, has announced the completion of a new submarine cable connecting UAE and Pakistan, branching to Oman.

The project to lay over 1200 kms of submarine cable, awarded to e-marine by Tyco and owned by Trans World Associates (TWA), Pakistan, was completed ahead of planned schedule.

Omar Jassim Bin Kalban, CEO, e-marine, said: "Our vessels and people have once again shown their expertise and leadership in our field by completing the project successfully in a record time. This project saw our Cableship Umm Al Anber landing the cable at Fujairah before proceeding to lay the cable till Karachi.

A branching unit was included and another cable laid connecting Al Seeb in Oman to the main cable." "This cable will boost the available bandwidth between the UAE and Pakistan, and will result in convenience and benefit for telecom and Internet users. With recent additions to bandwidth, we are positive that users across the region will be able to enjoy the benefit of fast and efficient connectivity through submarine cables", he added.

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Wednesday, December 07, 2005

 
PTCL Strike and the PC
A threatened strike on the 6th of June by workers (we use that term loosely here) of PTCL brings the planned privatisation of the corporation to a halt. The workers had occupied the PTCL HQ building as well as demonstrated in several cities.

It may that the Govt. is buying time to buy off the leaders or to intimidate them but then there have been many many U turns recently. The Privatisation Commission is holding talks with the Union leaders and we can be sure that the Intelligence agencies are in there also.

Major corporate customers are in a panic and many are looking for emergency backup services in case the PTCL network goes down. Looks like what is bad for PTCL will be good for the new competitors.

Labels: Infrastructure, PTCL

- posted @ Monday, June 06, 2005