Pakistan - Telecommunications Infrastructure

Synopsis

Over a 20-year period, the number of fixed exchange lines in service in Pakistan had increased more than fivefold. There are a number of problems, however: the majority of working lines are in urban areas, but 70% of Pakistan’s population lives in rural areas; and by 2010, growth had well and truly stalled. A more balanced distribution needs to be developed between urban and rural for the longer term, and this in turn may give the stalled market the boost it needs to grow again. Wireless Local Loop technology was showing signs of being one solution to both these issues. In the meantime, Pakistan continues to develop its international connectivity. This includes the planned launch of its first satellite – Paksat-2 – probably in the fisrt half of 2011. This report looks at the various aspects of Pakistan’s telecommunications infrastructure, including its participation in submarine cable networks.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Telecommunications infrastructure
  • 2.1 National telecom network
    • 2.1.1 Opening up of market
    • 2.1.2 Rural services
    • 2.1.3 Universal Service Fund (USF)
    • 2.1.4 Mobile services
    • 2.1.5 Fibre optic networks
    • 2.1.6 Broadband networks
    • 2.1.7 Payphones and Public Call Offices (PCOs)
    • 2.1.8 Wireless Local Loop (WLL)
    • 2.1.9 Next Generation Networks (NGNs)
  • 2.2 International infrastructure
    • 2.2.1 International gateways
    • 2.2.2 Pakistan-India link
    • 2.2.3 Submarine cable networks
    • 2.2.4 Satellite networks and systems
  • 2.3 Infrastructure developments
    • 2.3.1 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
    • 2.3.2 IP networks
• 3. Related reports

• Table 1 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1991 - 2012
• Table 2 – Growth in Public Call Offices (PCOs) – 1999 - 2009
• Table 3 – WLL subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 4 – WLL subscribers by operator and market share – April 2011
• Table 5 – Fixed subscriber growth – wireline and fixed wireless (WLL) – 2004 - 2011