Knowing the fact that Government of Pakistan is trying hard to introduce 3G in the country, we thought it would be a good idea to compare 3G Mobile Broadband with hardwired high speed Internet service or what you call it DSL.
So, with the assumption that you have a choice between some sort of a hardwired Internet service, DSL or cable, and mobile broadband, either 3G or 4G (after it is introduced), and also that you don’t want to take on the expense of having both, lets’ make a brief comparison of the two types of Internet connections and examine their pros and cons.
DSL offers these advantages:
If your computer and modem are powered on, you’re always connected. Yes, connections can be lost occasionally, but cable and DSL are very nearly bulletproof and constantly improving.
Download speeds are fast. Fixed line Internet connections are approaching and exceeding 10 MB in some instances, but even basic connections will give you 1-2 MB per second.
Costs would be lower than the 3G or 4G connections.
DSL and cable connections may come packaged with telephone and television services. You receive the proverbial “quantity discount” along with the convenience of needing to pay only one bill.
The amount of data you can access is essentially unlimited, at least for now.
The disadvantages of DSL and cable fixed line broadband are:
It is impossible for providers of fixed line broadband to test every operating system, brand of computer and the variations of configurations for different combinations of hardware and software. This means that sometimes it is very frustrating for someone, even someone with better than average computer skills, to establish and maintain their Internet connection. Likewise, it is sometimes problematic for even the most skilled tech support people to diagnose every possible problem.
The locations where the Internet can be accessed are limited to computers physically connected to the modem or within that modem’s wireless range.
3G and 4G Internet connections offer some benefits:
They make it easy for someone who is often in different locations to carry their Internet access with them. The USB modem’s weigh only ounces and can easily fit in the pocket, purse or briefcase.
They are easier to set up than fixed line. All the configuration information is automatically installed when the USB modem is plugged in and activated.
The need for land line telephone and cable TV service could potentially be entirely eliminated.
Disadvantages of 3G and 4G
The disadvantages of mobile broadband connections are currently considerable, but technology of this type can change so rapidly that there is every reason to expect that these will soon be gone.
3G or 4G is going to be more expensive than fixed line broadband.
Demand currently exceeds the supply, worldwide. Providers may finding their networks and bandwidths stretched so thin that unlimited data plans would be hard to get.
Given, the limited data plan, it is somewhat difficult to accurately estimate your usage consistently, and exceeding your data limit can quickly get costly.
Ultimately, the decision between fixed line and mobile broadband internet connections is up to the individual. However, the key factor will remain the price for 3G or 4G.
There is currently no one-size-fits-all solution, and what suits your requirements today could change tomorrow, and changes in technology will constantly offer new options and change the game again.
For those with limited needs and budget, PTCL is now offering “National Package”, a broadband DSL with 256 Kbps speed for Rs. 299 per month. With National package, you will be allowed to download 1 GB of data in one month.
Initial impression suggests that 1 GB cap with “National Package” is not going to impress customers, however, they may get fine with 256 Kbps speed.
Additional GBs are not allowed as well, which means you may face a blackout if you consume your data limit before time.
Note: Existing customer can also avail this package but they will have to pay one time charges of Rs.1500 as downgrade charges.
We had heard of upgrade charges so far, but being in Pakistan, expect any type of charges such as these downgrade charges with “National Package”. We fear someday companies might introduce “customer charges”
Below are the all PTCL Broadband packages now available for customer
PTCL, which had discontinued 2 MB DSL broadband package, is again offering its customers with 2 MB DSL broadband at Rs. 1,499 per month.
PTCL’s website says that the new 2Mb data rate as a promo will be offered to all existing 1Mb customers who upgrades to 2Mb at the existing monthly charges of 1Mb for a period of 3 Months without any additional charges.
After 3 months the prevailing monthly tariff of 2Mb of Rs 1,499 will be applicable. Please note that this offer is only valid for the upgrade customers of 1Mb to 2Mbps.
This move of brining back 2 MB DSL is apparently due to the fact that LDN, Micronet, Cybernet and other ISPs were offering 2 MB at around of less than Rs. 1,499, where as PTCL had discontinued its 2 MB DSL package.
Earlier, PTCL had upgraded all 2 MB DSL customers to 4 MB and had discontinued 2 MB package.
It seems like PTCL is going to double the DSL speeds of broadband customers very soon, most likely with in month or two, at most – same like it did last year. According to news the existing packages will be doubled as
• 1 mbps to 2 mbps
• 2 mbps to 4 mbps
• 4 mbps to 8 mbps
According to PTCL representative and feedback of different users PTCL is testing these double speeds on randomly selected subscribers from different areas of country. These users will be downgraded after the testing period ends to their original speeds and will be upgraded after official announcement, which is most likely to be on 23rd March, but can be delayed as no final date has been announced yet.
The up gradation process may take several months according to the size of network. Though PTCL is using is ADSL2+ which supports up to 24mbps but at same time there are many subscribers on Copper media, which supports up to 4 mbps at most (that too with distortion).
We hope that student package users will also get this upgrade and can enjoy higher speeds at discounted rates as recently PTCL discontinued all student packages above 1mbps.
We will keep you informed on this, you can also share your experience in comments if you got this test up gradation.
It will be interesting to watch how other companies will respond to this move. If they will compromise revenues over the new subscriptions they are likely to get if their retain student packages?
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) is now giving WiFi routers to its broadband customers, for wireless connectivity.
If you don’t know, WiFi routers will act exactly as your DSL modems, however, with a difference that WiFi routers can broadcast wireless signals with limited coverage – that is sufficient for in-house use.
So if you use laptop or other wireless devices, such as IP cameras etc, you can ask PTCL for WiFi routers, instead of wired routers (DSL modems).
All this comes with additional rental of Rs. 200 per month. However, this service has no extra cost for broadband customers having Smart TV.
Tariff will be
1Mbps Broadband: Rs 1399
2Mbps Broadband: Rs 2199
4Mbos Broadband: Rs 5199
By the way, Link Dot Net is already providing WiFi routers to its customers with additional charge of Rs. 100 per month.
Broadband Student Package
Dear customer now you can apply for PTCL broadband Student package through the following options:
Option 1 & 2: Order registration by submitting form at ‘PTCL OSS/CSCs’ OR emailing the form to ‘ PTCL Contact Center’.
1. Kindly visit the broadband student link and access the form http://www.ptcl.com.pk/student/index.php
2. If your institute is registered with PTCL, then please process with the filling of the form. In case your institution / university is not yet registered with PTCL then please request your institute / university administration to do by calling 0800-80800.
3. After completing the form, press “Submit Your Request” tab.
4. A link will appear on the top of the page to download the form in PDF format. Please Download the PDF file and have it printed.
5. This printed form has to be then validated (signed and stamped) by any of the following officials of your institute/ university.
Dean
Principal
Head of the Department
Professor
Lecturer
Any faculty member or
Administration staff of your institute
The completed and validated form can be taken to the PTCL One Stop Shops or customer services Centers for order entry and validation. OR the completed and validated form can be scanned and emailed to the following email address: student.broadband@ptcl.com.pk
Option 3 : Order Registration by calling PTCL Call Center
1. The order can also be placed by calling contact center 0800-80800
2. The call center agent will guide you through the procedure of order registration and validation of your request by our CSR contacting your institute/university administration.
A fixed line PTCL DSL is not a viable option for me in Abbottabad, so as luck would have it, I ended up owning not one, but two Wateen Wimax connections after moving to Abbottabad from Lahore – I believe this irony has something to do with god deciding to punish me for my sins in this world rather than the hereafter.
My first Wateen router, the indoor CPE, did not work out of the box, as I live on the ground floor and Wimax was probably invented exclusively for people higher up. After trying a hundred locations all around the house, multiplied by a hundred different angles and orientations, the best signal strength that I could find was a measly 2/5 bars, which translated to a 20Kbps out of the 1Mbps speed that I was paying for. Out of sheer desperation, I tried placing the device sideways and facing upwards, which is the exact opposite of how it is supposed to stand, and placed it closer to the floor, under a plant – and in a eureka moment (anything that increases bandwidth is pure bliss, right?), the signal strength shot from 2/5 to 4/5 and even 5/5 bars! Apparently, the plant catches the signals and throws them downwards using some kind of druid magic.
Since then, my experiments show that most plants and small trees act as great Wimax antennae – for the USB modems, for example, if you are working from a park, sitting below a tree will give you at least a 20% increase in signal. Now I understand what Buddha was up to when chose to spend his life beneath a tree. So here it is, my plantenna
Perhaps Yateem can resuscitate their business by giving out a plant with each modem. If you try this configuration, do let me know about your results.
A few months ago, Wateen released the USB version of its Wimax modem, which would be perfect for the “location independent professionals” if not for the same signal strength situation as the larger modem. Their towers are a kilometer from my house, but the USB modem failed function inside my house. As I did not intend to die by frost or mosquito bites, I was planning to return the device the next day when I decided to experiment with cantennas. The cantenna I made took the Wifi signal inside my home from a non-functional 0%-20% to a fully functional consistent 40%-60%!
The instructions are simple. Take a cola can, chop off the top half, create a slit wide at the base that is enough to place the can between the modem and its USB adapter and you are done. No wire loops to make, no can diameters to calculate and no need to wrap aluminum foil around concave surfaces.
I think this hack should also work with the EVDO USB devices, as I hear a lot of complaining regarding the signal strength from the PTCL EVDO users. If you try it out, I’d be very interested to hear about it in the comments.
P.S. Being away from one’s blog for months isn’t a great idea, but I have been busy coping with a lot of change – the deliberate kind (like moving from Lahore to Abbottabad for a while – more on that later) and the uncontrollable kind (my family getting into a car accident – more on that later). I will resume the brain-dump here in the days to come.
For those with limited needs and budget, PTCL is now offering “National Package”, a broadband DSL with 256 Kbps speed for Rs. 299 per month. With National package, you will be allowed to download 1 GB of data in one month.
PTCL, which had discontinued 2 MB DSL broadband package, is again offering its customers with 2 MB DSL broadband at Rs. 1,499 per month.
