The increase within one year is very dramatic, a change of over 6%, which is possible due to introduction of mobile broadband in terms of 3G/4G services. The licensing process led to rapid infrastructure development in the country and mobile internet received much attention, shifting many users from the slow 2G/EDGE services to fast 3G/4G/LTE internet speeds. This is also resulted in greater coverage of broadband services and on-board new customers in undeserved areas who previously relied on PTCL DSL or local cable area connection.

These figures emerged from the Quality of Service surveys that PTA conducts at regular intervals and this comparison shows stark differences in propagation of internet services through newer technologies. Residential broadband has slower pickup among the masses and is more time consuming for the companies to reach out to people further away.

Compared to that telecom companies have the advantage of using existing infrastructure (consisting of towers) to provide mobile broadband after going through complex upgrade process. The survey has rated telecom performance as ‘good’ and it is being hoped that it will continue to improve over the next few months.

Smartchoice covers all the mobile broadband packages offered by Telecoms and ISPs in Pakistan. Click here to find the best packages available in your city.

Khurram Zahid

The post Broadband Penetration Stands at 8.34% appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

By March 2015, Telenor leads total number of subscribers that stand at 3.5 million, followed by Zong with 2.9 million, Mobilink with 2.8 million and Ufone with 2.6 million. These figures speak the rapid adoption of 3G services while Warid has 66,140 subscribers for its LTE service and Zong has 31,582 for its 4G services.

Starting from EDGE service with a speed of 512 kbps, telecom operators spent a couple of months testing 3G services that allowed many subscribers to enjoy free high speed mobile internet up to 7 Mbps. Several subscribers chose to switch to 3G after the auction and many converted with the availability of better packages, better and cheaper smartphones and better awareness of 3G services by the telecoms. Telecom revenue from mobile broadband services now stand at 25% of total revenue, a phenomenal change in one year since the auction.

Despite bio-metric re-verification drive that saw reduction of overall number of subscribers, rapid uptake of mobile broadband shows great potential in the market and hunger for faster internet speed. Much of it as smooth as fixed broadband, constant supply of high speed mobile internet has opened doors where people can remain connected even in the absence of electricity.

The success can also be gauged by the fact that in March 2014 Pakistan won an award at Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona called  “Spectrum for Mobile Broadband Award 2015“. The successful auctioning of 3G/4G spectrum was recognized by the world and Anusha Rehman (Minister of IT) shared facts and figures at the forum to prove Pakistan’s potential. With a population of 200 million, mostly of young people, the possibilities and opportunities are endless.

Which mobile broadband service do you use? Share your experience in the comments below.

Khurram Zahid

The post 635% Mobile Broadband Growth in Pakistan appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.