PTCL is in the news as it reported earnings: a net profit of Rs. 5.354 billion for the half year ended on 31st December, 2009. This is a 13% growth compared to same period last year. At the same time, PTCL has withdrawn its high-speed Internet discount for students. In a recent press release, it announced that “PTCL is offering special 30% discount package for the students on 1 Mbps connection on high speed broadband services.” The previous connections of 2MBps and 4Mbps offered to students will be downgraded. To me, this business strategy seems odd. Why would you downgrade a popular package at a time when earnings are good?
Published by Arsalan Mir on February 1, 2010
under Offers, PTCL, Pakistan
PTCL comes with another attempt to create value for its landline services with the ‘Basant Offer‘ (they are getting creative with offer names).
The offer gives 50% Off on On-Net Calls in Off Peak Time (8:00 pm to 8:00 am) and Sundays. It is a seasonal offer (limited) valid only from 1st February 2010 to 28th February 2010. Good to see that the duration is pre-announced with the offer.
Can you spot what is not right about this advertisement from PTCL?
PTCL is providing devices (router and usb) for WiFi access in the home but they make it sound as if it is a “service”. Check out the official statement below. My take is that they should just make the router+usb free (at least not charge Rs. 200 per month for an indefinite period) and stop calling it a “service”.
We had written about the issues holding up $800 million payment from Etisalat. Pakistan’s Minister of Privatisation has stated that Pakistan will receive a payment of $800 million by the end of March from the UAE’s Etisalat for a stake in Pakistan Telecommunication Co (PTCL). Read more »
In the process of making its image better PTCL’s “ek tar faiday beshumar” is by far the most vibrant commercial coming from them. Hear it on radio or watch it on TV, its the best at both. Take a look at it yourself.
PTCL – feel the difference
I beleive such advertisements backed by service quality will definilty make the difference felt, create value for the customers and capture the value in return.
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) has re-launched voice mail service with remote login feature to keep its valued customers informed about their incoming calls. The re-launch with a new feature of remote login will enable customers to receive their messages from any landline, Vfone and all mobile services within the country or internationally, just by dialing 1277 followed by a four digit pin code of their mailbox.
The Etisalat-PTCL deal has been controversial since the days when privatization talks began. In the 4 years after the deal, PTCL went through a transformation with many changes impacting its employees including layoffs. But the issues associated with Etisalat-PTCL deal are not over yet. Recently news has surfaced that Etisalat is still in dispute with Pakistan Government over US$1 billion (Dh3.67bn) payment. Etisalat agreed to pay $2.6bn to the government in installments for a 26 per cent stake in PTCL in January 2006. But it has withheld payments for more than a year because of a dispute over the ownership of several properties in Pakistan that were part of the deal.
“Transfer of land is part of the contract. It says if it doesn’t happen we can stop the payments,” said Mohammed Omran, the chairman of the UAE’s largest telecoms operator. A committee that is led by Waqar Ahmed Khan, the Pakistani minister for privatization, and includes two other federal ministers has been established to negotiate with Etisalat. Read more »
Recently my father wanted internet connectivity at his work site in the vicinity of Port-Qasim (Karachi), I suggested him to go for wireless broadband. So, my father asked me to get the best wireless broadband connection. This was not an easy task and above all my finding surprised me even more.
Published by Arsalan Mir on January 1, 2010
under ICT, PTCL, Pakistan
On the occasion of 27th International Telecom Management Information Platform (TEMIP) User Group Conference held at Hamburg, Germany PTCL Network Operations Centre (NOC) team has been honored with ‘Special International Recognition Award’ on displaying exemplary expertise acquisition for extensive utilization/ customization of product features in an exceptionally short time span. Read more »
Taimur Sikander has written an interesting article for Dawn about the long way that telecom has come in Pakistan and the impact of mobile phones and telecommunication on Pakistan society. I particularly like how he provides snapshots of the early days, and the way politics, arts and culture were shaped by telecom. It talks about Nazia Hassan’s hit song, ‘Telephone pyaar’ which was one of the first pop songs in Urdu about phones. Excerpts follow.
After IM over SMS warid brings in SMS to PTCL V-Fone. Now all Warid customers can receive and send SMS to any V-PTCL number within Pakistan any day any time.
Here’s an excerpt from the ISPAK (Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan) statement release to the press on PTCL’s non-cooperation over the last 5 days to activate new DSL connections to customers. PTA is investigating the matter. The history of bitter relations can be traced back to one of our early posts in 2006 – Battle of the Bandwidth.
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