Archive for November 5th, 2008

Mobile Advertising Traffic Numbers Show Increase In Mobile Web Usage In Pakistan

Published by Babar Bhatti on November 5, 2008 under Mobile Advertising, Mobile Web, Pakistan, Smart Phones, Telecommunications

Pakistan’s traffic for AdMob ranks number 18 in the world. Not bad, given the limited number of mobile data users in Pakistan. See this post for the background of these statistics. In September 2008 the requests recorded from Pakistan were 28.9 millions, up 3.5 times from September of 2007. Note that this is data is only from one ad provider and the actual number is likely to be higher. However this is a very good indicator of mobile web trend in Pakistan and shows that the mobile web usage in Pakistan has taken off.

Free Internet From PTCL: Is It Anti-competitive?

Published by Babar Bhatti on November 5, 2008 under Broadband Internet, Digital Divide, Government Regulations, Internet, PTA, PTCL, Telecommunications

PTCL recently announced that it will offer free dial-up Internet service to its phone customers. From PTCL point of view, they can offer the excess capacity to users and claim it as a sticky factor and a valuable service for its customers. However this free offering is worrisome for the competitors of PTCL. This issue has brought back one of the old rivalries in Pakistan telecom industry: PTCL versus Internet service providers of Pakistan. Some people think that the quality of service of this free dial-up is so bad that it amounts to a gimmick and it will frustrate those who try it.  Others believe that this is a great idea and service for those who have limited or no broadband choice. What do you think?

Via Trading Markets.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has called the management of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) to explain its position on providing free dial-up Internet services to its customers.

Chairman PTA, Dr Mohammad Yasin while talking to a private TV channel here Monday said that most private Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have lodged complaints to the Authority against PTCLs free Internet service terming it anti-competitive and predatory pricing move.

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