Mobilink launches HTC HD7 in Pakistan: ProPakistani

Mobilink launches HTC HD7 in Pakistan
KHL Prepares to Deploy GPON for PTCL
PTA’s Annual Report for 2009-2010 [Download]
Pakistan Telecom Market Fixes a Yo to Consolidation
Ufone Enhances its Mobile Banking Solution Called UPayments
Telenor Organizes 1st National Virtual Leadership Conference
PTCL Offers Special Incentive Package for its Employees

Posted: 02 Dec 2010 05:22 AM PST

Mobilink launches HTC HD7 in Pakistan is a post from: ProPakistani

Mobilink has shown its love for smartphones recently. After Motorola Milestone, Mobilink has launched Windows® Phone 7 powered HTC HD7 smartphone in Pakistan.

The HTC HD7 smartphone features the latest Windows® Phone 7 platform which includes cutting-edge technologies and a series of unique applications that complements the Windows® Phone 7 Hub and Tile experience.

Launched under the umbrella of Mobilink's post-paid brand indigo, the HTC HD7 smartphone is bundled with FREE GPRS for the first three months.

HTC HD7 offers a powerful range of innovative online services, keenly sought by high-end users, online social-networking enthusiasts, bloggers and corporate professionals alike. The Windows® Phone 7 also integrates with many popular Microsoft services such as Office in the smartphone.

The HTC HD7 smartphone allows you to watch movie in style on a huge 4.3 inch widescreen display with kickstand. With the 1Ghz processor, the HTC HD7 provides you with an exhilarating browsing experience and access to your multimedia and social network. With the 16GB built-in memory, users can store a huge library of 720p HD videos, music and games.

KHL Prepares to Deploy GPON for PTCL

Posted: 02 Dec 2010 01:05 AM PST

KHL Prepares to Deploy GPON for PTCL is a post from: ProPakistani

KHL KHL Prepares to Deploy GPON for PTCL Konnect Holden Limited (KHL) says that it has received letter of interest from PTCL to deploy GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) for PTCL in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad with capacity of 5,000 subscribers in each city.

KHL is reportedly negotiating with PTCL to deploy the outdoor network (ODN) implementation, which is considered to be most tedious and expensive part in GPON deployments.

KHL is well placed to win this contract, worth more than Rs. 200 million, based on its expertise in ODN implementations as well as now being the largest vendor with such an experience in Pakistan and in International Markets.

To be completed in 8 months, this GPON network will allow PTCL to deliver triple-play to the subscriber's doorstep using optical fiber cable as a media. This blazing fast network will provide its customers with the most advanced (voice, video and data) services – such as high-definition television, innovative telephony services and ultra band Internet access.

GPON supports higher rates, enhanced security, and choice of Layer 2 protocol (ATM, GEM, Ethernet). In first phase the ISP (In side plant) the active components of the network, is awarded to Huawei in South and Ericson in Central & North Pakistan.

FTTH and FTTB (Fiber to the home & Fiber to the Building) are not new names to many in the telecommunications field, but for masses this implementation in Karachi, Lahore & Islamabad will bring an amazing experience with triple play services, net surfing and file transfers/downloads at a blazing speed.

This pilot project with total capacity of 15,000 customers in three cities will serve as beginning of another 150K deployment, which is already in the bidding stage with PTCL with various ISP vendors trying their luck to enter into this emerging market in Pakistan.

The ODN survey and design has been a major success for KHL as they have contributed towards PTCL success by achieving this mile stone already prior to commencement of 15K trial project and for the future 150K lines all across Pakistan.

PTCL has the largest deployed fiber network in a country, and with the deployment of GPON technology in the country, PTCL has pioneered another technology for the better lives of the countrymen.

With GPON solution, PTCL will be able to offer customers a whole new range of next-generation, ultra band applications that leverage network's true gigabit speeds.

PTA’s Annual Report for 2009-2010 [Download]

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 10:20 PM PST

PTA’s Annual Report for 2009-2010 [Download] is a post from: ProPakistani

PTA has released its annual report for ICT industry of Pakistan for year 2009-2010.

Comprising of 94 pages, this report covers all aspects of country's telecom and broadband industry.

You can download the full report by clicking this link 16.9 MB (PDF File – Right Click and Select "Save target As)

In coming days, we will cover each chapter of this report in detail, while the summarized facts are given below:

Total teledensity of country reached 64.08 percent in FY 2009-10 with 3.5 % YoY growth
Cellular teledensity reached 60.4 percent
Total telecom sector revenues reached Rs. 357.7 billion in FY 2009-10, compared to Rs. 333 billion during same period last year
Cellular mobile sector revenues were Rs. 236.1 billion with 11 percent YoY growth rate
Total investments made in telecom sector during FY 2009-10 stood at USD 1.13 billion, where cellular share was 80 percent
FBR collected Rs. 44 billion as sales tax and federal excise duty (FED) from the telecom sector during 2009-10, as compared to Rs. 49 billion during same period pervious year.
Total tax collection by mobile sector was Rs 71.95 billion, which was Rs 82.3 billion in 2008-09.
Activation tax declined by about 53 percent in 2009-10.
PTA collected a total of Rs. 13.56 billion as license fee, USF and R&D contribution, compared to Rs. 9.15 billion collected last year.
Fixed teledensity, following the global trend, dropped to 3.68 percent.
Pakistan has total of 3.42 million fixed subscribers, 2.66 million WLL subscribers.
PTCL's share in fixed subscribers is 74 percent
Broadband subscribers reached 900,648 mark in FY 2009-10, showing 100 double the size of previous year's subscribers.
PTCL enjoys 53 percent market share with 474,387 subscribers with Wateen at second slot with 21 percent market share and 188,725 subscribers.
PTA received 24,711 complaints during the reported year, out of which 95 percent were resolved.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Pakistan Telecom Market Fixes a Yo to Consolidation

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 08:30 PM PST

Pakistan Telecom Market Fixes a Yo to Consolidation is a post from: ProPakistani

Since 2005, the Pakistani public has been bombarded with the glitz and glam of mobile subscriptions from the five players that make up the local cellular industry. As per statistics released by the PTA, total mobile subscribers crossed the 100 million mark in September 2010, highlighting that almost 60% of the nation was now 'connected'; encouraging figures for a country that is considered to have over 30% of its population living below the poverty line.

The last 2 years has seen a notable dip in the growth rate of subscribers, after 3 years of unimaginable increases. This highlights what seems to be only dawning on the industry insiders of Pakistan's telecommunication sector; the pre-maturity of our market.

You see, Pakistan jumped into the mobile arena instead of phasing in slowly, like other nations. There was no long-term plan on how technology should be incrementally innovated and introduced, so that the consumer can keep up as the industry matches the worldwide evolution. Instead, it became a fad and has ended as a stagnant technology that seems more important than life itself.

But what is now ever more worrying is that the companies cannot sustain for too long on the price-war strategy that they have developed. While there are those who argue how this strategy is beneficial to the consumer, the experts state the opposite; companies are avoiding the long-term picture.

Investment into innovation is low and it is likely we may skip many steps before next phase of technology is brought to our shores. For example, 3G services, which have been available in most of the developed world for a decade now, is unlikely to pop up here in the near future. We are more likely to awaken to 4G, once that becomes a norm worldwide.

Hence, the question arises: is it finally the time for market players to consider consolidation in order to move forward? Analysts have long suggested that Pakistan's cellular market is ideally designed for 3 companies. But with each one of the current five being subsidiaries of foreign holding, it is unlikely we see that number reached soon.

However, the winds of change are blowing, as one player's lethargic display and negative quarterly earnings have given the incentive for a larger and profitable group to seek acquisition. For the latter, this is the ideal avenue to not only increase its subscriber base, but also gain ownership of expensive infrastructure and alternative revenue streams. For the former, it is the most respectful way to exit the market and save face, as well as get some return on all the investment of the past 5 years.

What about the consumer? Well, it is expected that the remaining four players will begin to work on segmenting the market, and then initiating a focused approach to become leaders in certain areas, rather than everything and everywhere.

So, as teams from the two companies work out the details in the historic city of Lahore, the market awaits the news that should make 2011 a new beginning for the cellular service industry in Pakistan in terms of competition.

Ufone Enhances its Mobile Banking Solution Called UPayments

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 08:29 PM PST

Ufone Enhances its Mobile Banking Solution Called UPayments is a post from: ProPakistani

Ufone has enhanced its mobile banking services, named as UPayments. Earlier, Ufone was offering WAP based bill payments and other financial transactions, however, now in collaboration with its banking partner Habib Bank Limited, Ufone is offering bill payments and bank account management through USSD.

Now UPayments allows Ufone customers the ability to pay their utility bills wherever they are directly from their handsets, even without GPRS. Ufone customers can buy Ufone airtime for their prepaid accounts and pay their Ufone Postpay bills.

In order to use this service all one needs is an HBL account and a Ufone connection.

Ufone customers will have the ease to check their HBL account balance as well as view their HBL mini account statements directly on their Ufone.

UPayments is a USSD based service hence it is extremely customer friendly and has no handset limitation.

One of the unique selling points for UPayments is that the customers can avail all these banking services while roaming anywhere in the world with Ufone's International Roaming network. This is the first time in Pakistan that customers are being offered mobile banking services via USSD when traveling around the globe.

Services Offered:

Pay your Utility bills
Make Utility bill enquiries
ULoad any Ufone number
Pay your Ufone Postpay bill
Check your HBL bank account balance
View a mini bank statement of your HBL account

How to Avail:

If you have a bank account with HBL then to subscribe to UPayments, dial *808# now!

Charges:

Rs. 5 + tax will be charged on the payment of every utility bill. (This charge will be deducted from customer's airtime. The bill amount will be deducted from customer's bank account)

Mr. Akbar Khan Chief Marketing Officer Ufone said,

'The launch of UPayments gives Ufone's customers the ease to pay their bills no matter where they are'. 'This is just the start to many other features to come which will eventually allow Ufone's valued customers to use their handsets for all banking transactions' he added.

Telenor Organizes 1st National Virtual Leadership Conference

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 08:28 PM PST

Telenor Organizes 1st National Virtual Leadership Conference is a post from: ProPakistani

Seen in the picture (L to R) are Nasir Dar, President Pakistan Deaf Forum, Atif Shaikh, CEO and President Special Talent Exchange Program, Abia Akram, Disability Advisor Handicap International Pakistan & Women Coordinator DPI Asia Pacific, Anjum Rahman, Director Corporate Communications & Responsibility Telenor Pakistan and Shamsa Kanwal, Vice President Milestone.

Telenor Pakistan, in collaboration with Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP), a disabled people's organization (DPO), helped bring together representatives of 23 DPOs at the 'First National Virtual Leadership Conference of Persons with Disabilities' on the eve of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The conference, which centered on the theme 'Keeping the Promise: Mainstreaming Disability in the Millennium Development Goals Towards 2015 and Beyond', served as a platform for Pakistan's disability leaders to discuss issues related to persons with disabilities and to align their development goals.

Director Corporate Communications & Responsibility, Telenor Pakistan Anjum Rahman speaking after the conference said:

"It is heartening to see all the prominent leaders of persons with disabilities come together for the common cause of mainstreaming Pakistan's disabled community. Telenor Pakistan has been consistently working toward the inclusion of persons with disabilities into society through various initiatives under the umbrella of its 'Khuddar Pakistan' program, and will continue to do so. I hope that our combined efforts will help Pakistan in achieving its MDG commitments in the times to come."

CEO and President, Special Talent Exchange Program Atif Sheikh appreciating Telenor Pakistan's support said:

"This year on International Day of Persons with Disabilities there is a need to ensure that persons with disabilities are integrated into all development activities. While through combined efforts the movement for a rights-based society has gained momentum over the last two decades, a national plan of action is still lacking. The ratification by the government of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will help the disabled community work towards achieving Pakistan's MDGs."

The video conference, the first of its kind, was held at Telenor Pakistan's offices in Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Quetta.

PTCL Offers Special Incentive Package for its Employees

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 08:27 PM PST

PTCL Offers Special Incentive Package for its Employees is a post from: ProPakistani

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) has offered 'Special December Incentive Package' for the facilitation of its employees.

Under the newly announced package, acquiring rates of PTCL products like landline, broadband and DSL have been reduced for PTCL employees. Not only has this, several conditions on the acquisition of these products also been modified to give maximum benefits to employees.

This includes relaxation on the condition of installation within seven (7) days after registration on landline, elimination of condition of minimum number of installation of broadband connection beyond which the incentive was applicable and the incentive rate of IPTV which has been enhanced three fold.

SEVP HR Mazhar Hussain upon announcing this incentive package for employees stated:

we hope this gesture extended by management would be appreciated by our employees and would motivate them to work together as a combined force to surpass all historical examples and standards of excellence and customer care to provide outstanding services to our customer.

SEVP Commercial Naveed Saeed said:

Employees are our most valued asset and their well being has always been PTCL top priority. This new package has been announced with the thought that our customers can benefit most from PTCL products. Our employees will also continue to give their best input and act as organization's biggest strength. In future as well, PTCL being an employee and customer friendly organization will keep on introducing such packages.