Free Internet From PTCL: Is It Anti-competitive?
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.
PTCLs is the largest Internet backbone provider in the country and owns the copper loop which is used by dialup and broadband DSL Internet users.
PTCL on the one hand is charging ISPs for the wholesale Internet bandwidth in US dollars at very high rate and on the other hand, offering free Internet in retail market said Azfar Manzoor, Vice President of Association of Pakistan (ISPAK).
Condemning PTCLs move, ISPAK has pleaded PTA for immediate intervention and directing PTCL to stop offering free Internet service.
Manzoor added if this does not happen, PTCL should offer free Internet backbone services to ISPs so that they can offer same level of service to their customers .
ISPAK has a history of bitter relations with the dominant telecom operator, PTCL for last many years on strong arm tactics and distorting level playing field.
The Internet industry of the country has not witnessed any growth in real terms in last five years and ISPAK cites PTCLs actions as one of the major reason for this dismal situation.
The telecom regulator is consulting the stakeholders on this issue and expected to announce a decision next week after hearing all affected parties.
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I have recently connected ptcl. i do Internet and don’t know the charges based on ptcl internet. so plz tell us through news paper or in bill paper. thanks alot!!!
Jason ur modem must be a good one, whats ur modem name/maker?
i am using ptcl dial-up servicer for 4 months. It is excellant. The usual speed is 42.6 to 44 kbs , which is better than other dial-up isps.
thank u ptcl.
PS: I dont know if their are any “hidden” charges being charged through the local calls. PTCL may clarify that
JASON
can anybody sent me user id,number and password of 10rupee card of sms4net please
hi Guy’s,
although PTCL Dialup is free but i dont think so they are offering quality services, even i am unable to connect from 5 hrs and then i feel very disappointed from PTCL.if company is not able to provide even Dialup services then what will be the condition of DSL?
i had a complaint with LDN but since i start using it’s services “SMS4NET” Dialup Services ,it’s very easy and simplest i just sent message to 965 from my Mobilink prepaid connection i get internet Hrs instantly.
So try atleast once, it’s really amazing…for further details http://www.link.net.pk
I think its a great service and would raise the dial up standards in Pakistan dramatically. I believe charges on connecting on an ISP should either be dropped or reduced to very low levels for all ISPs including ptcl. And yes, of course ptcl has to improve its service.
In fact PTCL has to survive in so competative enviroment. I think PTCL has offer free internet to save its sinking ship (PTCL Telephone Industry), which is surviving under very competative circumstances due to mobile phone companies. This is a very good trick at a very right time to be in the market.
The free internet experience is completely frustrating..turtle speed connectivity and yes the call keeps dropping. If nothing else the ultimate fate of free PTCL internet will eventually unfold on its own, where users will eventually opt for a better service provider, because after all in today’s world its all about high speed connectivity the race to efficient time management!
Now Cybernet also launched unlimited service for their card user. I think It is the answer of PTCL free package which will easily win cyber in comming days by his perfect support support on phone (111-56-56-56).
I think Nasir Jamal has summed up this offer and explained the strategy in a nutshell. I still maintain that when it comes to dial-up internet, only WOL is providing any worthwhile packages any more and only SMS4NET is the best amongst them for users with low internet requirements. It is also extremely convenient.
Its a good move by PTCL for areas with no broadband.
The free internet is not so free after all. When you will use it you will know that it is very expensive because the call keeps on dropping and the speed is poor. This is another way increasing the number of local calls by the PTCL.