Internet in Pakistan
Encyclopedia
The Internet in Pakistan has been available since the early 1990s. According to the International Telecommunications Union there were 133,900 Internet users in 2000 or just 0.1% of the 164 million people in Pakistan. By 2006 use had grown to 12 million users or 7.2% of the population. Telecommunications being one of the fastest growing industries in the country, by 2011 the usage has grown up to 31 million users or 17.6% of the total population.
Internet country code: .pk
(PTCL) started offering access via the nationwide local call network in 1995. The country has been pursuing an aggressive IT policy, aimed at boosting Pakistan’s drive for economic modernization and creating an exportable software industry. Pakistan had almost 128 ISPs in 2007, with customers concentrated in the areas of Islamabad
, Karachi
, and Lahore
. Recently, PTCL has started offering free dial-up Internet service to all its landline
subscribers. Broadband access is now available in the major cities, wireless broadband Internet has been introduced by the Wireless local loop
(WLL) networks in many major cities, and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
(WiMAX) networks are being deployed. Fiber to the User (FTTU) triple-services are being offered by Nayatel in the capital city of Islamabad
. In 2008, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
(PTA) reported over 22 million Internet users. Most Pakistani companies, educational institutes, and government departments maintain web sites, which has further increased the demand for Internet access.
, LINKdotNET
, and Wateen. Smaller DSL providers are Micro Net, Nayatel, Maxcom, Multi Net, World Call, Cyber Net, Gerry's Net, Witribe, Brain Net, and Comsats.
In August 2007, PTCL launched its Smart TV service, an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service. IPTV along with high-speed broadband internet and voice telephony is available on the subscribers existing telephone lines at the same time on one bill. This and similar offerings continue to blur the boundaries between telephones, the Internet, and traditional television and radio broadcasting.
PTCL and World Call provide wireless broadband using the Evolution-Data Optimized
(EV-DO) Rev. A standard, with speeds of up to 3.1 Mbit/s. PTCL provides its service under the brand name EVO which is available in more than 100 cities. In August 2010 PTCL upgraded to EV-DO Rev. B (Phase 1). This new service, called EVO Nitro, offers speeds of up to 9.3 Mbit/s.
launched its WiMAX
services in Pakistan, the first nationwide and largest WiMAX network in the world. Connections are available at speeds from 256 Kbit/s to 1.5 Mbit/s. Wi-Tribe and Mobilink
are also offering WiMAX, as is Augere
under the brand name Qubee
.
Internet country code: .pk
.pk
.pk is the Internet country code top-level domain for Pakistan. The domain name registry that operates it is PKNIC.-Second level domains:As of 2007, second-level registration for the .pk domain became available....
History
The state owned Pakistan Telecommunication Company LtdPakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited is the largest telecommunication company in Pakistan.The company provides telephony services nation-wide and is the backbone for country's telecommunication infrastructure despite arrival of a dozen other telecommunication comanies, including giants like...
(PTCL) started offering access via the nationwide local call network in 1995. The country has been pursuing an aggressive IT policy, aimed at boosting Pakistan’s drive for economic modernization and creating an exportable software industry. Pakistan had almost 128 ISPs in 2007, with customers concentrated in the areas of Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, and Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. Recently, PTCL has started offering free dial-up Internet service to all its landline
Landline
A landline was originally an overland telegraph wire, as opposed to an undersea cable. Currently, landline refers to a telephone line which travels through a solid medium, either metal wire or optical fibre, as distinguished from a mobile cellular line, where transmission is via radio waves...
subscribers. Broadband access is now available in the major cities, wireless broadband Internet has been introduced by the Wireless local loop
Wireless local loop
Wireless local loop , is a term for the use of a wireless communications link as the "last mile / first mile" connection for delivering plain old telephone service and/or broadband Internet to telecommunications customers....
(WLL) networks in many major cities, and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
WiMAX
WiMAX is a communication technology for wirelessly delivering high-speed Internet service to large geographical areas. The 2005 WiMAX revision provided bit rates up to 40 Mbit/s with the 2011 update up to 1 Gbit/s for fixed stations...
(WiMAX) networks are being deployed. Fiber to the User (FTTU) triple-services are being offered by Nayatel in the capital city of Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
. In 2008, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is Pakistani government agency responsible for the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunications in Pakistan...
(PTA) reported over 22 million Internet users. Most Pakistani companies, educational institutes, and government departments maintain web sites, which has further increased the demand for Internet access.
Broadband
There were 1.3 million broadband subscribers in March 2011. Broadband is offered at speeds that range from 512 kbit/s to 12 Mbit/s in all major cities. The largest broadband providers are PTCLPTCL
PTCL may be:* Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd, Pakistan* Peripheral T-cell lymphoma* Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, England...
, LINKdotNET
LINKdotNET
LINKdotNET is an Egyptian ISP and internet company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Orascom Telecom Holding.Chairman of LINKdotNET is Khaled Bichara, who is now the CEO of Orascom Telecom Holding.-Beginnings:...
, and Wateen. Smaller DSL providers are Micro Net, Nayatel, Maxcom, Multi Net, World Call, Cyber Net, Gerry's Net, Witribe, Brain Net, and Comsats.
In August 2007, PTCL launched its Smart TV service, an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service. IPTV along with high-speed broadband internet and voice telephony is available on the subscribers existing telephone lines at the same time on one bill. This and similar offerings continue to blur the boundaries between telephones, the Internet, and traditional television and radio broadcasting.
PTCL and World Call provide wireless broadband using the Evolution-Data Optimized
Evolution-Data Optimized
Evolution-Data Optimized or Evolution-Data only is a telecommunications standard for the wireless transmission of data through radio signals, typically for broadband Internet access...
(EV-DO) Rev. A standard, with speeds of up to 3.1 Mbit/s. PTCL provides its service under the brand name EVO which is available in more than 100 cities. In August 2010 PTCL upgraded to EV-DO Rev. B (Phase 1). This new service, called EVO Nitro, offers speeds of up to 9.3 Mbit/s.
WiMAX
Wateen TelecomWateen Telecom
Wateen Telecom is a Pakistani telecommunication company based in Lahore, Pakistan and is a sister concern of Warid Telecom.With the collaboration of Motorola, they plan on deploying a WiMax country-wide network across Pakistan.- Overview :...
launched its WiMAX
WiMAX
WiMAX is a communication technology for wirelessly delivering high-speed Internet service to large geographical areas. The 2005 WiMAX revision provided bit rates up to 40 Mbit/s with the 2011 update up to 1 Gbit/s for fixed stations...
services in Pakistan, the first nationwide and largest WiMAX network in the world. Connections are available at speeds from 256 Kbit/s to 1.5 Mbit/s. Wi-Tribe and Mobilink
Mobilink
Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited, better known as Mobilink GSM, is a telecommunication service provider in Pakistan. The company is Pakistan's leading cellular operator with a subscriber base of 31.5m and market share of 31% in October 2010....
are also offering WiMAX, as is Augere
Augere
Augere is a wireless broadband business founded in 2007. It is headed by the former CEO of Orange, Sanjiv Ahuja. It has a mission to provide 'broadband for all' and is working to bring available, affordable and accessible broadband internet services to under-served communities worldwideAugere has...
under the brand name Qubee
Qubee
Qubee is the customer facing brand of Augere, the wireless broadband business founded in 2007 by the former CEO of Orange, Sanjiv Ahuja. It has a mission to provide 'broadband for all' and is working to bring available, affordable and accessible broadband internet services to underserved...
.
See also
- List of Internet service providers in Pakistan
- Pakistan Educational Research NetworkPakistan Educational Research NetworkThe Pakistan Education and Research Network connects universities and research institutes through high-speed Internet bandwidth. The main purpose of this network is to facilitate researchers/students in sharing data and to coordinate with each other though video conferencing.Currently 56 Pakistani...
- Internet censorship in PakistanInternet censorship in PakistanInternet censorship in Pakistan is government control of information sent and received using the Internet.- Overview :The OpenNet Initiative listed Internet filtering in Pakistan as substantial in the social and conflict/security areas, as selective in the Internet tools area, and as suspected in...
- Telecommunications in PakistanTelecommunications in PakistanTelecommunications in Pakistan describes the overall environment for the growing mobile telecommunications, telephone, and Internet markets in Pakistan.In 2008 Pakistan was the world’s third fastest growing telecommunications market...
- Universal Service Fund PakistanUniversal Service Fund PakistanUniversal Service Fund was established by the Government of Pakistan to spread the benefits of the telecom revolution to all corners of Pakistan...
External links
- Pakistan Telecommunication Coverage Footprint (maps), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority