DSL-based broadband operations

[ChthonicPowers]

Ten ISPs set to launch service in fifteen cities

KARACHI: Around ten Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are set to launch Digital Subscriber Loop-based (DSL) broadband operations initially in fifteen cities at rates ‘as cheap as the existing Internet services’.

Still, over a dozen applications from ISPs seeking licenses for the same are pending before the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA).

“We have received around 20 applications for broadband operations licenses. Some of them have been awarded while the remaining ones’ fate would be decided in a week or two,” a PTA official said.

“The authority has set certain criterion to grant licenses,” he added. “Anyone who meets the criterion would definitely get the license.”

He clarified that the telecom regulator would monitor the operations in future and would reserve all rights to take action on sub-standard services.

A couple of weeks back, the PTA allowed DSL-based broadband operations to the country’s ISPs, warning of action against existing unlicensed broadband firms.

The DSL broadband is a modern technology that converts existing twisted pair telephone lines into access path for high-speed communication of various sorts. By using the technology, regular telephone lines can be converted into a high-speed broadband digital link.

DSL is faster than both ISDN and leased line, yet is more cost effective. With DSL, Internet connection is ‘always on’, and users have unlimited access to the Internet.

The downloading speed can be ten-times higher compared to the regular downloading speed of an analogue modem. In addition, with just one line, users can get connected to both telephone and the Internet.

Licensed ISPs claim that they are set to kickstart operations within a month, initially in 15 cities of the country.

“We would initially start from 15 cities and then expand it. I am quite optimistic that the service would receive good response,” said the head of a leading ISP.

He claimed his ISP was operating in over forty cities and had plans to gradually introduce broadband operations in all the forty cities.

Another licensed ISP, operating from twenty-five cities is also flexing its muscles to launch broadband operations, initially from ten cities.

“It is our initial plan. Expansion would depend over the success of our operations in these cities,” he said.

In its decision, allowing ISPs broadband operations, the PTA however, expressed its concerns over Internet services in the country.

“The existing quality of Internet access in the country is not up to international standards. The decision of opening up of DSL Internet access will revolutionise the whole Internet based services to the users,” the PTA said in its eleven-page decision.

The ISPs have further claimed that the broadband service would be cheap enough for the common man to afford.

“It is very difficult to announce any accurate rate,” said Ansar-ul-Haq, President ISPs Association of Pakistan. “But we promise that the rate would be cheap enough so that anyone could benefit from this service.”

He claimed the technology introduction would provide employment to over 200-300 professionals in the country.

Daily Jang: Urdu News - Latest Breaking News update Pakistan - jang.com.pk

FINALLYYY…common man will have access to broadband. A little late, but better late than never. :k:

[K_Khan]

It's never too late.. at last common people there could get their hands on, to the explicit sites.....

[Spock]

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Ilúvatar: *
It's never too late.. at last common people there could get their hands on, to the explicit sites.....
[/QUOTE]

So DSL is meant for explicit sites? Cant you do that with dialups?

[Shak_killS]

dial up is not enough for video downloads. movies and audios.

dsl is much faster! roughly 10 times. if they devide the lines evenly which i doubt it very much.

DSL never promised a fix rate bandwidth. it depends on distance from the exchange, and number of people sharing the DSL loop.

[K_Khan]

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *

So DSL is meant for explicit sites? Cant you do that with dialups?
[/QUOTE]
I think he meant that 80% there, use net for Chatting and surfing explicit sites... .. and of course downloads

[mAd_ScIeNtIsT]

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Ilúvatar: *
It's never too late.. at last common people there could get their hands on, to the explicit sites.....
[/QUOTE]

They don't need to go to the explicit sites for that. I've seen countless VCDs of that kind of stuff on sale at video stores in Karachi. Last time I went to the Rainbow Centre in Karachi to buy some DVDs, once store vendors realised I was from abroad and had money to spend (my urdu accent is a dead giveaway) they were practically pushing each other aside to try to sell me that material. I've spotted that kind of material at many other stores in various areas of Karachi too.

To come back to my point, if people want explicit material it will be cheaper for them to go down to their local VCD shop and buy it than pay for a DSL line.

[Akif]

Re: DSL-based broadband operations

*Originally posted by ChthonicPowers: *

FINALLYYY…common man will have access to broadband. A little late, but better late than never. :k:

Broadband cable (for the common man) has been around for quite a while…and at rates better than dialup in some cases. The downside is that its only available in a couple of cities.

[ChthonicPowers]

Re: Re: DSL-based broadband operations

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Akif: *

Broadband cable (for the common man) has been around for quite a while...and at rates better than dialup in some cases. The downside is that its only available in a couple of cities.
[/QUOTE]

Agree. Hopefully with this launch the penetration of broadband will increase manyfold. Lets hope they keep the costs down and quality up. But thats expecting too much from greddy public fleecing corporates in Pak.

[Spock]

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by mAd_ScIeNtIsT: *

They don't need to go to the explicit sites for that. I've seen countless VCDs of that kind of stuff on sale at video stores in Karachi. Last time I went to the Rainbow Centre in Karachi to buy some DVDs, once store vendors realised I was from abroad and had money to spend (my urdu accent is a dead giveaway) they were practically pushing each other aside to try to sell me that material. I've spotted that kind of material at many other stores in various areas of Karachi too.

To come back to my point, if people want explicit material it will be cheaper for them to go down to their local VCD shop and buy it than pay for a DSL line.
[/QUOTE]

You beat me to it. I was about to say that.

btw, Mad Scientist, where do you hide all those CDs? You can tells us :)