Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 22, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Mobilink Infinity has commercially launched its WiMAX operations today (October 22, 2008), starting with Karachi. Its website is LIVE and says that they are offering services in Karachi only. covering only one city is not what Orascom is famous for. I am personally not convinced with their launch in only Karachi.
Tariff:
Mobilink revised their tariff from what they offered initially at soft launch. Major difference is that now download is capped at 5 GB a month or 15 GB a month (Previously it was unlimited). Also rates are taken little higher than of previous ones.
Soft Launch special rates were
256 kbps Unlimited: Rs. 799
512 kbps Unlimited: Rs. 999
1024 kbps Unlimited: Rs. 1199
(Thanks to Saad Ibrahim and Mudassar Ijaz for pointing out these rates)
Monthly rates seems good, but there is somethng very annoying at the bottom, the upfront payment of Rs. 10,000 which is too much i guess for home users (Security deposit of Rs. 2,000 is refundable though). From market feedback Mobilink Infinity has decided to cut short the upfront payment. Now its only Rs. 6.000.
When compared with Wateen, Monthly rental are good but Voice and Data packages are mandatory as of Wateen - Meaning that you must subscribe to voice as well as data package with Mobilink Infinity. It is like thrusting voice package, as not many will be interested in Voice (as per estimations).
Apart from pricing, services, response time, customer support, reliability and network uptime are other features that would come under consideration in the long run.
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Updates to come in coming days regaring service feedback
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 22, 2008 at 1:11 PM
We had informed our readers about the removal of pre-activated SIMs from market, to cap sale of illegal SIMs in early September, and then there were reports that a policy is being made to execute the idea.
Now there is news that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has given out a date and has decided to implement a system for activation of new mobile SIMs after verification of customers’ starting from January 31, 2009.
Decision was taken unanimously in a meeting of mobile companies’ CEOs and the regulatory affairs officials that was chaired by chairman PTA and attended by senior PTA officials.
Chairman PTA decided that from January 31, 2009 onwards non-active mobile SIMs will be sold which will be activated only after the verification of consumer data from NADRA, subsequently sale of pre-activated SIMs would be stopped. Furthermore, 10 mobile connections could be issued at most on one CNIC.
“PTA would conduct a survey to check violation of SOP after two weeks. If any violation would be observed the authority would issue show cause notice and impose fines on the mobile companies”, Said Chairman PTA
It was also decided that PTA and Mobile operators will run media campaigns to educate the subscribers to have SIMs registered in their names.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 19, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Warid Telecom has deployed Pakistan’s first Solar Powered Macro Base Station (BTS). This is a step towards going Green along with it is considered an essential in long term planning while eying Pakistan’s energy crisis that has damaged businesses countrywide.
Huawei’s environmentally-friendly Solar Powered Macro BTS, which wholly runs on solar power, allows operators to spread their coverage limits to far flung areas of the country, where there is no electricity. Furthermore, this solar powered BTS allows Telco’s to provide uninterrupted telecom service despite of any power failures.
The non-hybrid site is 100% powered on solar energy, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions and noise pollution, both of which is harmful to the local environment.
Along with such Green technologies, now operators should also work seriously on tower sharing to reduce growing energy costs and other operating expenses, instead of imposing additional charges on customers.
Here’s more from Huawei’s Press Release
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. delivers next generation telecommunication solutions for operators globally and has taken a firm step towards being green. The company’s green sites incorporate optimized hardware design, an innovative power amplifier and efficient power consumption management.
The non-hybrid site is completely powered on solar energy, thus contributing to a reduced carbon dioxide emissions and noise pollution and the solution reduces pressure on the overall energy supply - which further benefits the environment.
Huawei’s innovative solar powered BTS is environmentally-friendly solution which the company says will significantly reduce the total cost of ownership in the product life circle, optimizing energy efficiency, and bringing clear benefits to operators.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 19, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Here comes yet another tax for cellular users, this time we don’t need to worry about, as this tax is not for telecom services, instead the usage of telecom service will be taken as a measuring tool for someone’s income and those will be taxed whose monthly bill exceeds Rs. 100,000 per year or Rs. 8,333 per month. This decision was taken by Federal Board of Revenue to bring mobile phone users into the tax-net under the new plan to broaden the tax-base in 2008-2009.
Business Recorder has confirmed that FBR had issued instructions to the Director General of Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) to obtain record of mobile phone users whose annual bills exceed Rs 100,000 and bring them under the tax net.
Along with cellular users, FBR has plans to include frequent air travelers, luxury car holders, large industries and others segments too.
FBR’s this move is not going to harm general users, instead the plan is to attack those elite segment who have not disclosed their assets or income, and are not paying taxes while they are excessively using resources in the country.
In case a person is paying more than Rs. 8,333 per month for his cell phone, then he must be having some revenues to pay tax. In case his company is paying for his phone bills, then his employer has to justify this and has to show the mobile phone expenses.
FBR can issue letters to the cellular phone users with over Rs 100,000 to demand National Tax Numbers (NTNs) or ask the non-filers of income tax returns to file return, if required. On the basis of NTN, the department could check/verify the income of mobile phone user for subsequent filing of return.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 19, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Pakistan’s fastest friend, China has announced to launch a telecommunication satellite, named PakSat-1R, for Pakistan in year 2011. The satellite’s chief contractor China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) has lately reported that a Long March 3B rocket will be used to put the satellite into orbit. It will launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the south western Sichuan province.
According to Business Recorder the satellite company will manage ground control facilities for the satellite to be delivered to the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission after it enters orbit. CGWIC and its sub-contractors are responsible for the design, manufacturing, final assembly, testing and launch of the satellite.
Paksat-1R will have a life span of 15 years. Pakistan will use it for domestic telecommunication and broadcast services. Contracts for the satellite deal were inked during President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to China.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM
There is this rumor that Telenor Pakistan is going to launch its WiMAX operations in Pakistan, or they are at least, very keenly studying the WiMAX market.
Thetechturtle has come up with this news citing an insider that Telenor’s WiMAX launch is expected first quarter next year.
I know one thing for sure that Telenor has spent a huge amount of time working on the R&D for this project. The first I came to know about Telenor coming up with WiMAX was in December 2006, when Wateen was preparing to give out user trials in Lahore. The word at the time was that there were 5 people working on the project and it was so hush that the employees who were working on the project research had to sign an oath declaring that if they spoke a word of it to anyone, they will be promptly fired.
However, Telenor Pakistan’s spokesman firmly denied any such launch, and said “Telenor Pakistan currently has no plans to launch WiMAX Operations in Pakistan.”
I am not sure if WiMAX business is Pakistan’s next catch, instead of faster mobile internet. But keeping in view, many unsatisfied customers from Wateen and Mobilink yet to make an impression… investment Giant like Telenor can play some good game.
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Posted by: Reality Bites on October 16, 2008 at 6:50 AM
According to PTA’s very recent public stats, the total numbers of cellular subscriber in Pakistan are soon going to hit 90 million mark. The saturated Telco’s market of Pakistan is now asking for QoS (Quality of Service), Continuous improvement in network infrastructure and customer service & care programs.
If we randomly analyze the Pakistan Telco’s market, we will get the findings that almost all of the major factors have been utilized. Recently, we all have observed new launches of Mobile Telco, though market was expecting huge change in pricing structures and in some DATA services to be free, but results were not as anticipated.
According to an estimation, it has been observed that most of the cellular subscribers utilize these connections as the secondary choice (few people may have different opinion here) and they registers every number as a habitual behavior. Thus investing millions of dollars in the same arena for customer acquisition is no more tactful attitude as it was before.
As pricing competition in Pakistan’s cellular market has almost broken every global record. The cheaper products & Services offer to try and beat off rivals’ offers, it’s a profit killer.
Continue Reading This Story
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 11, 2008 at 8:11 AM
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Apple i-Phone 3G 8GB
Price: Rs. 55,000 |
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Apple i-Phone 3G 16GB
Price: Rs. 65,500 |
We have discussed before that 3G iPhone is available in Pakistan, with few evidences, but this post will go online with a proof of availability and its exact pricing details.
Thanks to a subscriber, who posted this update at WCCFtech with pictures, to actually confirm the price and location from where he got this 3G iPhone 8GB.
This 3G iPhone (8 GB) is purchased from Hafeez Center, Lahore. And its price is as following
3G iPhone = Rs. 58,000
Turbo SIM = Rs. 1,000
Total = Rs. 59,000
Turbo SIM is used to unlock it, so to total package is going to cost you Rs. 59,000.
The Bill Says:
N95 new casing: Rs. 1,300
Apple Iphone 3G (8GB): Rs. 58,000
Telenor Sim: Rs. 600
Turbo (Power) Sim: Rs. 1,000
iPhone pouch: Rs. 600
Total: Rs. 60,900
Where to Buy Unlocked 3G iPhone in Pakistan?
Well there are plenty of options now for unlocked 3G iPhone, i am narrating few here, but you can go and check your local market for best rates
Here are few refrences
Panorama Computers (They sell 3G iPhone at Rs. 68,000)
41-42 LG, Hafeez Centre, Main Boulevard,
Gulberg, Lahore, Pakistan.
Phone: 042-5714787-5714788
Fax: 042-5714329
Shophive.com
You can buy online 3G iPhone from Shophive, they have set 3G iPhone 8GB price at Rs. 54,990
“Mobile Shop”
20-G, Hafeez Centre,
Main Boulevard,
Gulberg, Lahore
0321-4681333
This Mobile Shop is reportedly selling iPhone 3G 8GB @ Rs. 45,000 (Thanks Saad Mubarak)
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