3G spectrum licenses auction concludes:Live Updates

[Areesh]

Really?

how is it possible and if true what are the charges?

No extra charges. You just need to subscribe normal internet packages. They are giving it for trial in some areas of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

@forcetrip Am I correct?

 

[forcetrip]

Really?

how is it possible and if true what are the charges?

There are no charges. Just data limits in place with your 2g account. They are testing their sites therefore everyone getting a freebie. Packages will be introduced probably next month. Out of 1100 sites in Karachi 300 high value or high service sites are already converted and being tested. These are known as platinum sites.

 

[farhan_9909]

No extra charges. You just need to subscribe normal internet packages. They are giving it for trial in some areas of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

@forcetrip Am I correct?

well just tried in Abbottabad with 3g and i am not even getting signal's

 

[Areesh]

well just tried in Abbottabad with 3g and i am not even getting signal's

Are they offering 3g in Abbottabad at all? I thought it is offered only in federal and provincial capitals for now. I don't think Abbottabad is included in the list for now.

 

[forcetrip]

well just tried in Abbottabad with 3g and i am not even getting signal's

Abbottabad? You will be waiting a very long time.. Years possibly.

 

[Shabaz Sharif]

well just tried in Abbottabad with 3g and i am not even getting signal's

by nexy year coverage will be in 80 cities, which surly will include Abbottabad. Maybe by end of this year is also possible.

 

[Raja.Pakistani]

When your internet speed is higher, you will certainly going to use more volume and if your data cap/volume is small then it will end quickly if you start streaming videos, sky pe calling or use for downloading stuffs..if you use your phone just for surfing then even G P R S is more than enough so these Three G or 4 G will only be useless if you get a good volume of data usage I am more interested to know the rate and data volumes they will give to their customers

 

[farhan_9909]

Are they offering 3g in Abbottabad at all? I thought it is offered only in federal and provincial capitals for now. I don't think Abbottabad is included in the list for now.

do we have any list?

i thought we will start getting 3g throughout pakistan within months

 

[Areesh]

do we have any list?

i thought we will start getting 3g throughout pakistan within months

Nope initially it is for federal and four provincial capitals. Smaller cities like Abbottabad would be included later.

 

[farhan_9909]

Abbottabad? You will be waiting a very long time.. Years possibly.

years?

i had read in some news that 80% of Pakistan will be covered in months

 

[Shabaz Sharif]

I think now its also working in Peshawar, can anybody confirm this?

 

[Thorough Pro]

Brief intro about what LTE (4G) is.

Thats what marketing for an extra $300m gets you. Bragging rights!

Less than 1% can actually use or make any sense of 4g in this country. My whole business model is on the internet and I could barely touch the capabilities of 3g at this point. 4g means I have to upload or download 1gb autocad files on my phone in the next 20mins. Unfortunately I and the 99% other people in this country will never have the need or the deadline to do that.

 

[forcetrip]

Brief intro about what LTE (4G) is.

Another thing we cant do with 4g. Watch youtube in pakistan.

years?

i had read in some news that 80% of Pakistan will be covered in months

Read it again. One Year plus to bring 3g to 80 cities. Got to check if Abbottabad is in those 80 cities.

 

[Areesh]

Used Telenor 3g today. It was a great experience. Streaming was flawless.

 

[forcetrip]

Telenor likely to launch 3G service in 2 weeks

KARACHI:
Telenor Pakistan, which acquired a licence for third-generation (3G) mobile internet services in the April-23 spectrum auction, is likely to launch its high-speed mobile broadband services in two weeks.
“We have already completed our network swap [upgrade] and all of our 8,000 cell sites are 3G-ready,” the company’s Chief Marketing Officer Irfan Wahab Khan told a group of journalists in its Karachi office on Tuesday.
Though Khan did not give a specific date for the launch of its 3G service, he gave all the indications that the company is ready to launch the much-awaited mobile broadband service anytime which, according to our sources, will be functional within two weeks.
The Oslo-based cellular service giant and the second largest telecom operator by subscribers (35 million) is testing its 3G services on a trial basis in selected areas, according to Khan. The company has already paid 50% fee for acquiring 5 megahertz band in 2100 MHz or 3G spectrum to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, meeting the final prerequisite for launching 3G services in the country.
“Telenor users could dial a code [*7799#] to find out whether the service is available in their area,” Khan said. The company’s marketing head also said they would ensure the affordability of the service for low-income subscribers.
Besides monthly plans, Khan said the company would also offer daily and weekly passes [data bundles] to keep 3G within the reach of low-end customers.
In his presentation laden with statistics on the benefits of mobile broadband, Khan said 10% increase [in subscribers] from 2G to 3G could cause a growth of 0.15 percentage points in the country’s GDP – an equal increase in mobile broadband penetration could boost the economy by 1.3%, he said.
While country’s telecom sector has taken a giant leap forward in the world of technology, Khan insists this is not without the challenges facing the industry.
The country’s smartphone penetration is about 10%, which is a challenge and so is low mobile internet penetration, which also stands at the same level, Khan said.
Giving a breakdown of taxes on telecom, he said there is an activation tax of Rs250 on every new connection issued by the industry, which is borne by the service provider. Additionally, he said there is a 19.5% federal excise duty on telecom industry, which is relatively higher than other sectors of the economy and another 15% withholding tax.

Telenor likely to launch 3G service in 2 weeks – The Express Tribune