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 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.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 8, 2008 at 4:41 AM
Pakistan Mobile Communication Limited has requested Pakistan Telecommunication Limited to transfer licenses of its affiliated companies that includes, Dancom Online, World Online, Link Direct, Mobilink, Intouch etc.
A very reliable source while confirming this news told that in addition to license transfer requests, PMCL has requested authority to grant additional licenses and O&M agreements for its affiliated companies.
On other hands, Nawa-e-Waqt has reported (in its October 07, 2008 edition) that Orascom has entered into final stages of its talks with Vodafone to sell out 26 percent shares of Mobilink to UK based cellular company. Paper says that there were various sessions carried out between Orascom and Vodafone, and now they have almost closed this deal. However, value of this deal is still unknown.
We had mentioned about this deal back in July that Vodafone and Orascom were nearing talks for sell out of 26 percent shares, however, Mobilink, Orascom and Vodafone officials were constantly denying this. Even now, we are unable to fetch information from anyone directly familiar with this deal.
Meanwhile, Mobilink officials have confirmed us that PMCL has requested transfer of licenses for its affiliated companies. He further said that this transfer is purely on operational and technical grounds.
“Mobilink is a brand name and hence, one cannot sell its shares. There is also no discussion on off-loading any shares of PMCL”, said Mobilink’s spokesman.
While analyzing this statement a telecom analyst commented that Mobilink is a brand as of now, and can’t be sold out, but after the license is transferred, Orascom can sell it out partially or wholly. He further commented that who is questioning PMCL’s sale out?
We are still unable to comprehend Orascom’s this move (if its in real), through which they will loose their most revenue generating unit out of many in various countries – also given that they saw a steep decline in revenues and growth in recent quarters throughout Asia Pacific and Middle East. We hope it’s not a Millicom recap…!
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 5, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Data Solutions (Pvt) Ltd and Tracking World (Pvt) Ltd are offering Pakistan’s very first in-car GPS system. Initially in detail maps are available for major Pakistani cities (including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Wah Cantt) and all major national highways.
Streets are labeled and searchable for Islamabad, Lahore and some parts of Karachi. In addition there are close to 40,000 POIs (point of interests) such as fuel/CNG stations, banks, ATMs, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, shops, etc. You may find address and phone number information for most of POIs.
In-Car GPS is made possible through Garmin GPS units. These navigation units range from in-car dash mounted devices to devices for motorbikes. There is also a unit which can be integrated with the vehicle’s LCD and displays the navigational information on it.
Initially in-detailed maps would be available for selected cities They say that they had been developing maps for Pakistan for last two years, and now they are ready to launch GPS services next week through an
Lahore based Tracking World say that, customers can pay one time fee for these navigation units and map to use GPS service for life time. They won’t charge you any monthly subscription fee or data transfer fee afterwords, thanks to their partnership with cellular companies.
Users will have to purchase one navigational device and map to kick going.
Once configured, users can input for POIs or location addresses in navigation device, which will speak out or guide drivers through screen to reach destinations.
Devices’ price: Ranges from $399 to $599
Map Price: $120
For Device pricing and features click here
Your input regarding service experiance (in comment box) will greatly help others
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 29, 2008 at 3:56 AM
Wang Jianzhou, Chairman and Chief Executive, China Mobile, has said that company is interested in expanding its network in emerging markets, primarily in Asia and Africa, despite huge risks.
Reuters, citing Wang Jianzhou has reported that world’s largest mobile phone operator is going to invest further USD 800 millions in Pakistan only. Chief Executive said that after initial investment of USD 400 million, company has injected another USD 1.2 billion for network expansion, while taking number of cell sites to 4000 from just 800 since acquisition took place.
Despite political and markets risks, company is positive to invest more in Pakistani market. “We have a lot of risks, we have a lot of troubles,” Wang said
Wang was of the view that operating expenses in Pakistan are high due to power shortages in major cities and hiked taxes, while China Mobile’s investment in the country is still to see return. These statements can be taken as sighs of relief for Pakistan’s market, especially, when cellular companies are performing too little.
In such a scenario, decisions like these from other cellular companies can better the dropping level of revenues for telecom sector.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 27, 2008 at 3:34 AM
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has reported a slack growth of cellular subscribers being added by mobile companies for the month of August 2008. PTA’s latest statistics show that cellular companies were able to add only 0.2 million connections in last month.
On the whole, all companies collectively added net 238,364 subscribers, taking total subscribers in country to reach 89.5 million mark. In the said month, companies showed merely 0.3 percent growth in adding subscribers.
Graph shown below is basically the depiction of telecom industry, which is going through tough time due to number of reasons including hiked inflation, political and economical instability in the country, increased taxes on telecom services and to some extent the policies.
This graph, which is derived from PTA’s statistics show that Zong stood first in August 2008 by attaining 357034 customers. While on the other hands, Mobilink lost 478095 subscribers (I don’t know how it happened, maybe due to millions of unregistered SIMs that got blocked)
It can be said that cellular companies have reached the active chunk of Pakistani market that slightly slowed down their penetration in the big cities. The only idea left unexplored is the rural market, for which I am sure mobile companies have already derived their strategies to expand their services and hit rural community more aggressively.
Overall, as of now, Mobilink is leading with 31.5 million subscribers, followed by Ufone with 18.60 million subscribers after taking back second slot from Telenor, which is now at third position with 18.31 million users.
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