Going wireless

Internet access has been available in Pakistan since the mid-1990s, when the national carrier started offering access via the nation-wide local call network in 1995. By early 2006 Internet penetration remained low. However, there were signs that this was changing. The country had been pursuing an aggressive IT policy, aimed at boosting Pakistan's drive for economic modernisation and creating an exportable software industry; this no doubt helped increase the popularity of the Internet. The market certainly had huge potential, but there was a long way to go.
According to Internet World Stats 2011, as of March 2011, Pakistan has a population of 187 million of which 20 million are internet users. In the year 2000, the penetration was 0.1% - this has now reached 10.9%. Today, Pakistan has a total of 1.5 million broadband connections and more than 20 operators providing internet services. Of all the world's developing countries, Pakistan may be the poster child for an economy struggling to emerge from the abyss of chaos. Centuries of foreign occupation, followed by weak governments after the establishment of Pakistan, have left a legacy that includes rampant poverty and obliterated infrastructure. So when it comes to rebuilding countries like Pakistan, one could be forgiven for questioning whether broadband should be a priority. Absent such basic infrastructures as electricity, water, sanitation and roads, should luxuries like broadband wait? If not, what role should broadband play? Can it somehow jump-start economies that have stalled like Pakistan's?
A wide-range of experts insist broadband has a key role to play in economies of all stripes. The Broadband Commission for Digital Development recently stated that expanding access to broadband infrastructure and services must be "a top policy priority for countries around the globe, developed and developing alike as well as least developed countries." In a similar vein, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a New York-based think tank, identifies broadband connectivity as one of several "critical success factors" in the creation of any smart community, along with things like a knowledge workforce and digital inclusion. Lower-cost technologies like satellite and wireless (ie WiMax) mean that countries don't have to choose between addressing long-term and short-term needs.
Whether you're an average teenager wanting to keep in touch with friends after school, or a business person needing a low cost but effective way to keep work related material local and secret, chances are you use e-mail or instant messaging services. For communication purposes in this high tech lifestyle that exists today, these systems are used only with the basic understanding needed to run these devices. Today's Pakistani consumers have a wide range of options to choose from, everything from DSL to fibre-optic cable to WiMax. However, WiMax is the best solution for an easily scalable network. This is one of the reasons why competition has grown in Pakistan, bringing availability and awareness of the internet for the people. Because WiMax is wireless - there is no need for fixed lines (either copper or fibre) for broadband access - WiMax is ideally suited for quick network deployment, enabling operators to serve untapped markets easily.
For those unaware, WiFi technology was initially popularised by Intel. The chip manufacturer created a technology to connect laptops, taking full ownership of this technology, as well how it was developed. Obviously WiFi was an open technology with transparent specs and lots of companies were working on it. Intel's concern was getting standardised connectivity for the laptops. Following the runaway success of WiFi, Intel hoped to replicate the same with WiMax - why think of connectivity of a 'mere' hundred feet when you could provide connectivity for kilometres (the theoretical limits for WiMax are about 25 kilometres). So Intel Capital invested heavily in WiMax, supporting its development. However, eventually the model proved unsustainable for markets with existing developed telecoms infrastructure - opening the door for deployment in developing countries.
The benefits of wireless internet are multi-fold, but are all focused around providing easy access to information and services. Only a few years ago, telecoms networks were all focused around voice - these are your 'old' copper-line networks. The advent of fibre networks gave birth to a new phenomenon - suddenly instead of carrying data over voice networks (ie dial-up), operators started carrying voice over data networks (ie Voice Over IP). With WiMax, you can take this one step further, connecting regions with limited access to fixed line communications, providing them with the infrastructure upon which they can then build a variety of applications - ranging from voice telephony to e-medicine to e-education. Students now have access to libraries around the world; some charge a fee but most provide free services.
Recognising this seismic shift in the communications landscape, Wateen recently entered into an agreement with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC). Under the newly inked partnership, Wateen will work with the HEC to link universities in remote areas to the Pakistan Education and Research Network 2 (PERN2) and provide a dedicated 10 Gbps core bandwidth to all PERN2 member institutes. As part of the agreement, Wateen will inter-connect a total of 26 locations, providing them with high-speed bandwidth; four of these will be located and hosted in HEC approved universities. These universities will act as 'hubs' in turn sharing their connectivity to other educational institutions. This long haul network will span four provinces and cover over 6,200 kilometres of fibre-optic cable. The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2013.
Currently, while many Pakistan's universities, public and private, benefit from dedicated bandwidth availability, universities outside major urban areas are often left behind in terms of their access to the internet. Groundbreaking research in fields such as high energy physics, biomedical applications, earth sciences, and computational chemistry require the exchange of bulk research data between research work groups or grid nodes for which a dedicated information pipeline is an essential requirement. Under the existing infrastructure, the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) are supposed to take the lead in implementing cutting edge services that are later adopted by commercial Network Service Providers. With the development of a long haul core through this initiative, the Pakistani research community will receive a tremendous boost in terms of their ability to access resources quickly and accurately. Campuses associated with universities spread across the country will enjoy LAN like connectivity.
This project will allow universities to not only access the Internet, but also carry out videoconferencing seminars, exchange research data, join e-seminars and operate distance learning programs at rates previously not possible. The hosting of research applications through HEC's data centres will become smoother because of the availability of greater bandwidth while real time traffic will suffer fewer delays and improve the videoconferencing and e-seminar experience. While a multi-fold increase in the quality of service is likely to stimulate local research collaborations, bulk data transfers among campuses and universities will also become more feasible allowing for activities like grid-based research.
Wireless internet has also brought new opportunities to government and businesses. The government uses it for various processes such as distribution of information and internal communication. Businesses use it to sell and buy products online and also to interact with other businesses. New business opportunities have sprouted because of the wireless internet. Similarly, the spectacular growth in the usage of cellular phones and services in Pakistan is a milestone for the growth of telecommunication sector in the country. At present, the numbers of cellular phone users have exceeded 109 million and are still growing rapidly. The sector has attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth billions of dollars and world-renowned brands have entered Pakistan's growing market. There is a strong potential for GSM networks to work together with WiMax operators to provide data connectivity at high-speed rates to mobile phone users. That's how the next phase of WiMax will be shaped.
Mobile broadband is reshaping society, communications, and the global economy. With smart phone usage surpassing that of personal computers, there has been a sea change in the way consumer's access and share information. Powerful mobile devices and sophisticated digital applications enable users to build businesses, access financial and health care records, conduct research, and complete transactions anywhere. Moving forward Cloud applications will provide further access to applications - everything from email to VOIP to payroll or Customer Relationship Management solutions can be provided on the Cloud. This in turn will give access and opportunities to all, creating a level playing field for new businesses, start-ups and SMEs.
This revolution in how consumers and businesses access information represents a fundamental turning point in human history. For the first time, people are able to reach the Internet in a relatively inexpensive and convenient manner. Regardless of geographic location, they can use mobile broadband for communications, education, health care, public safety, disaster preparedness, and economic development. This is the Pakistan of the future.