PTCL is the only telecom provider that’s offering all three services as a bundle all over Pakistan. This bundle includes Smart TV Set Top Box, DSL Broadband Internet and Landline Telephone. It’s called the Triple Play bundle. However you can purchase just the Smart TV services if you are already using PTCL internet services. But if you’re not a PTCL Broadband DSL user then you’ll need to get a Landline connection to avail these services as the Smart TV Set Top Box is connected to your internet modem.

Now let’s talk about a few features that you will get with PTCL Smart TV packages that your normal cable operator doesn’t provide you and can be really useful and exciting.

TV On Demand:
TV on Demand is an exciting feature of PTCL Smart TV packages that allows viewers to watch programs from the past 4 days at their own convenience.

Personal Video Recorder:
With the Personal Video Recorder viewers can schedule the recording of their favorite program to be aired in the next/upcoming 4 days. The viewer can watch these recorded programs at their time of convenience. The recorded program is stored for 4 days from the time of recording.   

Time Shift TV:
Time Shift TV is an awesome feature that enables you to playback live TV channels at any time you want. If you miss an important part of a movie, drama or a sports event, you can view it by rewinding the particular channel.

Parental Control:
This feature enables parents to restrict certain channels which are not suitable for viewing by minors. Restriction is enabled by assigning a password to particular channel thus empowering parents to control the content their children can watch on PTCL Smart TV.

Electronic Program Guide:
Electronic Program Guide is a feature packed on-screen guide that enables viewer interaction during channel and program selection. It can schedule broadcast television programs and enables viewers to navigate, select, and discover content by time, title, channel, genre, etc. by use of their remote control. It also provides access to billing details, changing password and managing favorites.

Video On Demand:
Video on Demand is a service that provides end users to interactively play videos and films through a catalogue available on the Electronic Program Guide.  A film that is selected, for example, will be available for multiple viewing for 24 hours without any extra charge. Do keep in mind that this feature is charged as per movie basis or you can purchase bundles.

PTCL Smart TV App:
One thing to note here is that unlike Cable TV, PTCL Smart TV only displays one channel on multiple TVs however the Smart TV Android/iOS mobile app enables you to live stream other channels on your smartphones and tablet PCs  so you don’t miss those exciting cricket matches while the females in your house are watching their never ending drama episodes!

Huge Number of Channels:
With PTCL Smart TV, you can flick between more than 120 channels. One thing to note is due to restrictions by regulatory authorities, indian channels are not available on PTCL Smart TV.

Pricing Details:

All prices exclusive of applicable taxes
PTCL Triple Play comes with 500 off net mobile minutes & 100 international Zone 1 destination minutes.
Value Added Services are free.

How To Order:
To avail PTCL Triple Play offers  from SmartChoice.PK you can click here to check out all the available PTCL Smart TV package charges and order them right away. To check out other available PTCL packages visit www.smartchoice.pk . Additionally you may call us at 03-111-276-278. The installation time is 7 business days. After that PTCL technical staff will visit your premises for installation and configuration purposes and to setup PTCL Smart TV. You will not have to pay anything at the time of installation and all charges regarding PTCL Smart TV monthly bill will show up in your PTCL landline monthly bill.

That’s all folks, we hope this blog post helped you know all about the PTCL Smart TV features, offers and pricing. To all existing users, please provide us with your experience with PTCL and your feedback in the comments section below!

Khurram Zahid

The post PTCL Smart TV Packages and Pricing Explained! appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Lack of Proper Infrastructure:
First of all let’s talk about infrastructure. This is probably the Achilles heel of PTCL. They claim to be offering their services across Pakistan but the fact is that they have obsolete and outdated infrastructure and haven’t tried on improving and refining it with the latest technology advances. Even in major cities like Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, PTCL services have been downright poor which is a surprise given the amount of customers and revenue they can generate if they give consistent services.

Lack of Investment in Future Technologies:
In wired connectivity PTCL is behind its competitors by still giving DSL broadband via copper cable whereas other competitors like StormFiber, Optix Fiber and Satcomm have already begun successful rollout of Fiber Optics based internet. Whereas other Broadband providers are taking the market by storm and getting a huge chunk of getting a rising number of broadband users onboard, the biggest telecom operator is  biting the dust and literally pays no heed to the need of the consumers and time both.

Then there also comes the issue of scalability I.e the telephone exchanges lack the capacity to handle new connections. Not just that, there are not enough feasibility checks before installing a new connection to ensure that the speeds commited will be delivered.

Trying to Do Too Much at One Time:
The situation is similar when it comes to  wireless technologies. PTCL  offers numerous wireless Mobile Broadband devices such as Evo Wingle and Charji Evo that boast of speeds between 9Mbps to 36Mbps however consumers are getting  speeds that are nowhere near even the promised speeds by the telecom operator. The underlying reason for this is inferior technology such as EV-DO which is  based on CDMA networks whereas every other ISP/Telco is offering services using 3G/4G networks which offer much better speeds and coverage. This is false advertising and the claims are too good to be true. PTCL is busy offering humongous packages ranging from 20-100Mbps however they are unable to give satisfactory speeds to even 2,4 or 8Mbps users.

Customer Service Issues:
In the end let’s talk a little about Customer Services. This is the backbone of any telecom operator as they handle queries and complains by new and existing customers. However due to the lacking quality of services, the customer services and support department are always overburdened with calls with the users complaining about lack of speeds. Obviously the customer support representatives are short on time and are thus forced to give unsatisfactory and pre-written replies that only aggravates the consumer further and thus a customer thinks of switching the ISP.

We believe that PTCL can surely make things better if they do a self-assessment and prioritize resolution of issues to retain existing customers instead of generating new business. Based on our limited understanding, we propose possible solutions to these variety of issues
1)  Discontinue or limit higher speed packages to specific areas in major cities only and  start giving consistent services to 2-8Mbps subscribers.

2) Initiate a roll out of Fiber Optics based internet services as soon as possible in major cities of Pakistan and communicate the rollout plans  to your existing customers.
3) Upgrade the infrastructure where the number of active consumers is the highest to the latest technology along with increasing network capability to offer better quality of services and improved coverage.

4) Offer promotions/packages that are backed by consistent and reliable quality of services that are not just for short term financial gains.
5) Coordinate with the CSR department to know of the complains being faced by customers and setting up technical support in such a way that addresses such qualms in real-time or as soon as possible basis.

5) Put such SOPs in place that once a customer lodges a complain against the service, it reaches the desired department and is effectively resolved by the respective technical and support staff.

Final Word:
In lieu of the above mentioned issues PTCL should now seriously consider and improve at the earliest because it’s high time PTCL got its act right and upped its game and really showed its competitors that it’s Pakistan’s largest telecom operator having the most coverage but at the same time offering consistent and satisfactory speeds to its consumers as well. We do hope that the word is spread and someone at PTCL with the right authority and capability takes notice of these shortcomings and strives to improve on the brand name and bring back loyal customers as well as attract new customers towards choosing PTCL as their telecom and internet services provider.

Khurram Zahid

The post It’s High Time PTCL Got Its Act Together! appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

3G EVO Wingle:
Line Rent: PKR 750
Monthly Data: 10GB
Monthly Installment: No installment as device is free.

CharJi EVO Wingle:
Line Rent: PKR 1000
Monthly Data: 20GB
Monthly Installment: PKR 500/month for first 5 months.

Charji EVO Cloud:
Line Rent: PKR 1000
Monthly Data: 20GB
Monthly Installment: PKR 500/month for first 7 months.

Additional Information:
The above mentioned prices are inclusive of all taxes.
Additional usage will be charged at PKR 100/GB.
Additional data bundle is available at PKR 500 for 5GB.

To get these devices on monthly installments without any upfront cost you can visit any nearest PTCL Smart Shop with your original CNIC. However there are a few terms and conditions for this promotion that are mentioned as follows:

* This promotion is available only to landline users with 6 months of bill payment history and is not available on new landline connections.
* Change of package is not available in this promotion.
* No return period.
*Line rent and installments will be included in landline bill.
*In case of disconnection before installment period ends, then customer will be liable to pay disconnection charges(equal to remaining amount of unpaid installments), in case of 3G EVO Wingle PKR 500 if disconnected before 3 months. However there will be no disconnection charges if the installments are paid fully and the 3 month period has lapsed in the case of 3G EVO Wingle.

We hope this initiative will benefit customers to get a device for on-the-go internet usage by deducting upfront costs and offering devices in easy installments. Do you intend to avail this promotion? Let us know in the comments section below!

Khurram Zahid

The post PTCL offers FREE Wingle/CharJi on Installments for Landline Users! appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Both new and existing Evo users can now subscribe to the PTCL packages with updated prices and increased data plans that will be valid until 31st December 2015.

[table id=3 /]

*Fair Usage Policy of 300 GB applies

Monthly line rent are inclusive of all taxes (including WHT)

Additional Usage on Evo 9.3 at Rs. 100/GB and 0.15/MB on postpay and prepay respectively

Additional 5 GB volume bucket for Rs. 500 on CharJi Evo prepay and postpay

Downgrade Charges of Rs. 570 apply for the 15 GB EVO 9.3 Package Only. This applies to existing subscribers who wish to change their package to the 15 GB package with Rs. 1,000 MRC. These subscribers will be required to pay the one-time charge of Rs. 570.

These PTCL net packages are only valid for Evo Wingle and Cloud devices of EVO 9.3 and CharJi. The device charges are separate which are as follows:

3G EVO Wingle = Rs. 1,500

3G EVo Nitro Cloud = Rs. 3,000

CharJi EVO Wingle = Rs. 2,500

CharJi EVO Cloud = Rs. 3,500

Frequently Asked Questions

Following are some of the FAQs to answer questions that both new and existing users may have in mind. If you have any question other than listed below, leave a message or call on the number listed in Contact Us part of this blog.

Q1) How will a customer pay downgrade charges?
A1) The downgrade charges apply to existing subscribers who wish to change their broadband package to the 15 GB Package (Rs. 1,000 line-rent). Package change charges of Rs. 570 will apply in this case. Customers will be required to have Rs. 500 balance in their account before applying for package change in the case of Prepaid (Customer upon recharging Rs. 570 will have 500 remaining in his account for package change charges). In the case of postpaid the charges will be included in the subscribers bill i.e Rs. 570 + Rs. 1,000 line-rent.

Q2) What is an existing subscriber wishes to change their package to the Unlimited EVO 9.3 package? Will they pay additional charges?

A2) No. The package change charges apply ONLY for the 15 GB PTCL packages. Standard package change scenario will apply for all other promo packages.

Q3) Is the promotion valid till the 31^st of October, or the 31^st of December?

A3) The promotion is valid for SALES till the 31^st of October, 2015. Subscribers who purchase their devices before October, 31^st will receive the packages described above. These packages with their volumes etc will be valid till the 31^st of December. On the 1^st of January, 2016 the volumes will be revised as presented above.

Q4) Will customer pay 14% WHT in addition to the monthly line-rent?

A4) As mentioned above, all monthly line-rents are inclusive of all taxes including WHT. Customer has to pay only the monthly line-rent stated as per their PTCL internet package.

Q5) What about the additional usage bucket on CharJi? Will the customer pay Rs. 500 for 5 GB or Rs 570 after WHT?

A5) The additional usage charges are also inclusive of WHT. Customer will receive additional 5 GB for Rs. 500 on CharJi.

Khurram Zahid

The post PTCL cuts prices to compete with Zong appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

What is significant is the there is no download limit or download cap, customers will be upgraded from capped PTCL net packages to unlimited and depending upon budget customers can experience speed up to 100 Mbps. IPTV is free with these packages (no monthly charges).

Following are the details of these new packages:

 Good part

– Free Smart TV
– Free Freedom packages (make PTCL landline calls at no cost)
– Absolutely uncapped internet (truly unlimited internet)
Bad part

– Installation charge increased from 1,500 to Rs. 2,500
– Taxes will be charged on top of your bill, so if you subscribe to 8Mb, you are likely to get bill of Rs.4,000
– All high speed packages may not be available in all cities due to infrastructure restrictions
– Current subscribers on DSL 8 Mbps Unlimited & above will stay on their current plan.

However there is a way existing customers can avail these new prices by reducing the package to 4Mb and then upgrade to 8Mb or higher.

All these new packages and prices are available on Smartchoice and can be ordered for new installation along with Phone and TV.

Khurram Zahid

The post PTCL Offer High Speed Internet at Amazing New Prices appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Not only residential DSL broadband is cheaper, it is often more reliable and consistent compared to mobile internet. When you consider Optic Fiber, the speed of internet service reaches a whole new level.

In Pakistan Fiber internet service is available in some areas and slowly gaining grounds. Stormfiber, Fiberlink, Nayatel are some of the major names that provide fiber internet in Islamabad and Karachi. Using fiber for amazingly fast internet speed, fiber internet companies are changing the way people connect with the world.

While bridging these gaps, people do get confused about Fiber internet service and various questions come up in their difference with regular internet service. If you are looking to know more about Fiber internet or planning to switch to it, keep the following details in mind:

• Fiber is slowly gaining grounds in various urban areas. First confirm if a particular fiber company has started providing service in your area before placing order
• It can take anytime between a week to a month for Fiber installation at your home (if services in your area are active), so keep at least a month’s time-frame in mind when deciding to switch to fiber service
• The upfront cost of Fiber is always high, over Rs. 7,000 for installation alone.
• The long-term monthly cost of internet is lower than cable internet or Wimax
• A special device, GPON, or similar is provided that is essential for fiber internet service. If your internet service provider is not providing GPON or relevant device, the internet connection is not really fiber.
• Fiber internet has zero copper wire in the whole connection, from the source right to the residence. If there is even a little copper wire in your fiber connection, it is not fiber.
• Fiber internet, in comparison to cable, is more reliable as it doesn’t go out in case of rainfall or electricity breakdown. The GPON device has battery backup to give more time of uninterrupted internet.

In a couple of years, fiber infrastructure will be better and would cover larger areas with more reliable performances. Once that happens, doors to more innovations will open as faster internet with dedicated lines will be available to residences as well as small-scale companies.

Do you use fiber internet or is the service available in your area? Let us know in the comments below.

UPDATE, 2nd Nov, 2015:

We are glad to let our readers know that Stormfiber has intiated its services by offering packages ranging from 2Mbps to 30Mbps in Karachi and those intrested to know more about it can visit this link to get more info and can also place their orders online on the available packages and tarriffs etc. Our representative will call you to guide you with the process.

Khurram Zahid

The post Fiber Internet Gaining Grounds in Pakistan appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Following are some prominent services on offer:

Website Creation: PTCL Smart Cloud allow creation of websites that can also support e-commerce, using Zeendo platform that specialize in clean web designs and templates. These are responsive websites that run on all browsers and have clean interfaces for computers, tablets and smartphones.

Media Sharing: Through Spontania, a media collaboration platform, Smart Cloud will allow subscribers to collaborate in real-time through voice, video and data. It allow teams to stay connected and work without delay in communication, surpassing physical barriers that may affect work.

Smart Storage: Smart Cloud allows online storing of data through NEC Cloud Storing. The data hosting platform is integrated with mobile technologies and has smart cache system for rapid response. Teams can easily save their work and retrieve it from anywhere and on any device.

Email Marketing: Using emBlue Express, Smart Cloud provides step-by-step process to find out ROI (Return on Investment) based on your email marketing campaign.

Patient Records: For medical practitioners Smart Cloud offers iMedicPlus service, a cost-effective platform that stores and manages all information related to patients. Not only records and appointment scheduling, it includes automatic email reminders to patients, patient portal, electronic health record and a separate blog space for relevant news posting.

Data Protection: For safety and data protection, Smart Cloud uses McAfee SaaS Endpoint Protection. The solution provides comprehensive protection, smart firewall to prevent viruses, malwares, identity thefts, data hacks and updates regularly to maintain high protection level.

The services start from as low as $2.9 to as high as $100 per month (yet to be seen when will these services offered in local currency). Looking at the list there seems to be a lot of opportunities to introduce even more variety of services that small and medium enterprises can use, such as a comprehensive email solution. Interested businesses can check the details on the PTCL Smart Cloud signup page that can be found here.

Khurram Zahid

The post PTCL Introduces Smart Cloud for Business appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.