Award Winning PTCL EVO is Rated Poor by 58% Customers: Poll

PTCL’s EVO service, which has recently won ‘Best Consumer Choice Award’ is rated poor by 58 percent respondents (who are supposedly EVO customers as well) in a poll conducted by PTCL itself.


In a poll, available on PTCL’s website, a total of 1768 EVO customers have voted so far, out of which 58 percent think that EVO service is poor. Another 22 percent believe that the service is good while only 7 percent rated EVO service as Excellent.

12 percent respondents opted not to rate the service.

EVO is a wireless broadband service from PTCL, which promises the mobility at 3.1 Mbps internet in over 100 cities. Consumers are generally not satisfied with the EVO’s signals in various part of major cities, resulting disconnections or low than advertised speed.

Source: www.propakistani.pk

GLOBAL TABLET SHIPMENTS TO HIT 58 MLN IN 2014 – STUDY

Consumer awareness of tablet computers is at an all time high due to the Apple iPad launch, according to a study by In-Stat. After close to a decade of negligible demand, the tablet market is finally gaining mass market appeal. Worldwide tablet shipments are expected to reach over 58 million units in 2014. Nearly 55 percent of survey respondents that own tablets spend 9 hours or more using their tablet each week. Over 40 percent of future tablet purchasers plan to buy an Apple iPad. The strongest shipment growth begins in the latter portion of the forecast period.

Source: www.telecompaper.com

A COUNTRY WITHOUT CYBER LAWS: PAKISTAN

Online activities are as vulnerable to crime as real life situations are. Law makers, law enforcers and individuals need to know how to protect themselves.

The following are some examples of cyber crimes:

1. Assault by Threat: Threatening a person with fear for their lives or the lives of their families through Internet e.g. Email, videos or other networks like Mobile Phones etc.

2. Cyber theft: Using a computer to steal. This includes activities related to DNS cache poisoning, identity theft, fraud, embezzlement and unlawful appropriation, espionage etc.

3. Cyber terrorism: Premeditated, usually politically-motivated violence committed against civilians through the use of, or with the help of, computer technology.

4. Cyber laundering: Electronic transfer of illegally-obtained money with the goal of hiding its source and possibly its destination.

Though Pakistan is a comparatively new member of the cyber world (i.e. mobile networks and broadband connections) and cyber crime isn’t as widespread a phenomenon as in some other parts of the world, but in Pakistan currently there exist no laws to prevent cyber crime.

One law, called Cyber Crime prevention bill, was passed by Pakistan Federal Cabinet on Jan 17, 2007. The proposed law titled “Prevention of electronic crimes bill” offered penalties ranging from six month of imprisonment to capital punishment for 17 types of cyber crimes including cyber terrorism, hacking of websites and criminal access to secure data. However, this proposed law was not passed in the Parliament and was implemented as an ordinance by former President Musharraf on Jan, 07, 2008.

According to this Ordinance, the accused could be fined one lack to five lack Rupees or three to ten years imprisonment or both.

The Ordinance was later endorsed twice by the PPP government for renewal, until it lapsed in November 2009 and was not reinstated hence. As the age of any Presidential ordinance is only six weeks from the date of its promulgation in Pakistan, there is no law at this particular time against cyber crimes in Pakistan.

By: Yaseen Chaudhary
Modified From: www.propakistani.pk

ISPAK Alleges PTCL of Illegally Using Extra Frequency

Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan has raised its concern over illegal use of frequency by PTCL. In a letter written to the Frequency Allocation Board, ISPAK has said that PTCL is illegally using extra frequency for its 9.3 Mbps wireless internet service called Nitro.

ISPAK noted that PTCL was allocated frequency band of 1975-1980 MHz and 1895-1900 MHz for use of its CDMA/WLL services. However, the company is now using 1975-1981.875 and 1895-1901.875 MHz thus occupying extra 3.75 MHz of band not originally allocated to them.

ISPAK has urged FAB to charge PTCL pro-rated charges for this extra usage and serious action for the violation. It merits mentioning here that frequency of 3.75 MHz for major cities of Pakistan is worth millions of dollars, meaning that PTCL is possibly causing millions of loss to PTA, FAB and the government if company is proven guilty. A query sent to PTCL for their viewpoint on this is still awaiting response.

Following is the copy of ISPAK’s said letter:

Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan(ISPAK)
No. 3(5)/2010
10 December 2010
Executive Director
Frequency Allocation Board
Government of Pakistan
Islamabad

Subject: Illegal use of frequency by PTCL

Dear Sir,

PTCL was allocated frequency band of 1975-1980 MHz and 1895-1900 MHz for use of its CDMA/WLL services. Currently PTCL is using this frequency for its broadband services advertised as EVO Nitro. But in reality, PTCL is using 1975-1981.875 and 1895-1901.875 MHz thus occupying extra 3.75 MHz of band not originally allocated to them. PTCL is using this extra band in major cities of the country including Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi, as verified by us through field monitoring.

2. Extra use of wireless spectrum is not only illegal but also deprives Government from millions of dollars revenue earned on auction of wireless spectrum to telecom operators.

3. We therefore request that punitive action be kindly undertaken against PTCL for illegal use of wireless spectrum under relevant clauses of Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996 and PTCL should be billed for the spectrum charges based on the pro-rata charges of spectrum fee at previous auctioned prices for each telecom region.

With kind regards.

Yours truly,
Wahaj us Siraj
Convener
c.c.Chairman PTA, Islamabad
Member Telecom, Ministry of IT, Islamabad

Source: www.propakistani.pk

PAK BROADBAND USERS ENJOY LOWEST TARIFF IN SAARC REGION

Islamabad—Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has carried out a benchmark study on broadband tariff and concluded that these are very competitive in the country as compared to other regional states. The basic objective of the benchmark study was to assess and compare level of broadband tariffs prevailing in Pakistan against other countries and to identify the areas where further improvements can be made for the benefit of operators and users.

As per regulator’s latest annual report, the broadband tariffs of regional states such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan were analyzed and reviewed. The broadband tariff in Malaysia were also analyzed and it was found that broadband tariffs were competitive here in the country.

The report said the study was based on the broadband tariffs offered by different operators in each country on unlimited or limited data basis. Each country’s broadband profile and operator-wise tariff details were analyzed and compared with same or closest package available in Pakistan. However, one area connection is that despite competitive tariffs Pakistan penetration rate is lowest among peer countries like Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

It was also pertinent to highlight that Global Broadband study was carried out by University of Oxford last year which ranked Pakistan at 60th position ahead of India and Indonesia which were given 62nd and 63rd position respectively. Malaysia was ranked at 48th position out of 66 countries. Broadband quality study has defined two waves of broadband services meeting modern requirements which has download and upload speed of 3.75Mbps and 1 Mbps for the period starting from 2000 to 2009 and meeting tomorrow, requirement with download and upload speed of 11.25Mbps and 5Mbps starting from 2010 till 2015.

Pakistan which was placed in leapfrog opportunity in 2008 has now been upgraded in today’s applications threshold category whereas India was placed at leapfrog opportunity for both the years, the report concluded.—APP

Source: www.pakobserver.net

KARACHI (December 21, 2010) : Naeem Zamindar has taken charge of Wateen Telecom as its CEO as per a press statement issued by the company. Zamindar brings an outstanding track record of building successful companies, spanning 20 years across USA and Pakistan. He is a founding team member of Mobilink, and was a key member of the leadership team that grew Mobilink to become the leading telecom company of Pakistan.

As the VP of Strategy, Business Development and Programme Management Office, he led the initiative of making Mobilink an integrated telecom company by enabling the nation-wide fiber optic network and through the acquisition of four companies that now form the Broadband Business Division.

In his last assignment at Mobilink as the Head of the Broadband Business Division, he was responsible for the successful launch of Mobilink Infinity. Recently he has been running Zamindar Capital, a consulting and investment firm that specialises in leveraging technology to leapfrog social and economic development.

Zamindar's track record of scaling successful companies like Mobilink, will certainly enable him to lead Wateen to the next level of growth and opportunity. He has also been an Investment Manager at Intel Capital in the Silicon Valley where he worked on 29 venture capital investments focused on building companies in the internet/new media and wireless broadband space. He is considered to be a leading thought leader in the Wimax world, being invited as the keynote speaker at many international wireless broadband conferences. He qualified as a CPA from the State of Washington and is an MBA from INSEAD.

It was also announced in the press release that Zohair Khalique will be joining the Board of Director's of Wateen. The dynamic Khalique is the former CEO of Mobilink and is regarded as one of the most dynamic CEO's to have chaired an organisation in Pakistan. He brings with him 26 years of senior general management, strategy and Board level experience with Price Waterhouse, ICI plc, Motorola Inc and Orascom Telecom.-PR

Source:www.brecorder.com

PTCL INTERNET USERS WEARY OF POOR SERVICE

ISLAMABAD (APP) - The internet users of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) are facing severe problems as the company has failed to provide them with better connectivity services.

Talking to APP, people said that the company claims to be the most reliable and largest converged services carrier, providing all telecommunications services from basic voice telephony to data, but the reality is different.

Whether it is at work in any city of Pakistan or at home in a small village, PTCL claims to be present in every corner of the country to serve its customers. After launching PTCL Broadband (DSL) service, the company also launched a new 3G Wireless Broadband internet service by the name of 'EVO Wireless Broadband', which is based on world’s proven CDMA 2000 technology. It claims that now people can enjoy up to 3000 kbps high speed internet at home, office or on the road. But on the contrary, service users complain that internet service provided by PTCL is very poor.

Kamran Ali, who works in a private office said, “I have a connection of 1 mbps PTCL broadband but I am facing problems. My downloading speed is only 25kb/s to 60kb/s, that is totally unbearable.” Another broadband customer said that despite its tall claims, the corporation had miserably failed to address speed and connectivity issues of internet users. “Most of the time I remain disconnected from internet service during a day,” he said.

The PTCL EVO offers this 3G Wireless broadband internet through USB and PCMCIA adapters directly to laptop and desktop computers, but unfortunately, it is not easy to use and creates many disruptions.

Though PTCL says it is providing an opportunity to the people of Pakistan to experience advanced technology and became familiar with this type of service but on the contrary people who have used these services are now switching to other networks.

Mehak, a student of M.A said, “sometimes the main internet server remains too busy that I get no response. Even I find it difficult to open my mail.” Her friend Ayesha said that she was very disappointed with PTCL Broadband DSL service and was planning to switch to other companies.

When connected the concerned PTCL officials were not willing to give any comments about the service.

Modified From: The Nation
Source: www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Business/13-Dec-2010/PTCL-internet-users-weary-of-poor-service