3G opens modern IT avenues in Pakistan

[Neo]

3G opens modern IT avenues in Pakistan

Tuesday, 22 Jun, 2010

Briefing the journalists on 3G experience Saad Waraich, country director for Nokia Siemens Networks, said one could easily forecast an early official launch of 3G. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: For the first time the country on Monday braced the third generation technology (3G) experience, which delivers improved and faster data speeds to support a suite of multimedia and rich cellular call applications.

A journalist also made the first-ever call in Pakistan through the 3G at a soft launch of this latest technology by Nokia Siemens Networks.

Briefing the journalists on 3G experience Saad Waraich, country director for Nokia Siemens Networks, said one could easily forecast an early official launch of 3G.

“It’s a matter of some months, rather weeks and 3G would hit the Pakistani market with a bang,” he said, adding that his company was already providing 3G solutions to two major telecoms operators, while 14 companies were in contract with Nokia. Moreover, 25 companies were in touch for contracts, he added.

“We are market leader in the business as we are providing these services to 160 companies around the world,” he added.

He said the unabated growth of the telecoms consumers reflected a successful experience of 3G as the broadband users were growing manifold by the each day passing.

“Only during the past two years, the broadband users grew from 150,000 to 800,000. Through minor investment, the companies experienced multiple growth of data users and the consumers today are experiencing much cheaper and faster access,” he said.

He said the telecoms operators have no choice but to go for 3G or even the Long Term Evolution (LTE) or 4G technology.

When asked whether Pakistani market was ripe for 3G, Waraich said Pakistani market was much more ready than Nigeria, which had already launched 3G technology.

The growth indicators reflect that Pakistani market needs 3G or 4G (LTE) technology, he said and added, though some of the operators are reluctant to go for 3G as it would make them invest further, the Internet Provider (IP) base is ready for the launch of 3G or even 4G.

There are more than 1.25 million Facebook users and even more using Youtube. All these users need 3G,” he added.

To another question whether or not the operators may benefit from infrastructure sharing, Waraich said it was feasible and many operators around the globe were benefiting from this experience.—APP

DAWN.COM | Business | 3G opens modern IT avenues in Pakistan