USF Made it Happen: 1 MB DSL for Rs. 299

By Aamir Attaa | 28, Sep 2009 | 29 Comments

DSL offering in Sargodha

Few days ago, we reported about 1 MB DSL for Rs. 299 in rural areas from PTCL – however, we didn’t know then that it was due to Universal Service Fund only.

As per information we have received, USF is already subsidizing the broadband internet in various un-served and under-served areas of Pakistan. Reportedly, USF will roll out such initiatives countrywide in phases, based on telecom regions in Pakistan.

Unlike telecom services, the bidding for broadband was on achievement of targets, not the roll-out. Here target means, broadband users, and USF pays on per broadband user basis – the amount per user is decided through bidding.

As a pilot project, Faisalabad Telecom Region has started getting the fruit. Following map will help you understand the status of deployment in better way.

Broadband USF USF Made it Happen: 1 MB DSL for Rs. 299

In Faisalabad Telecom Region, PTCL and Wateen won the bid and they gonna provide services in 7 districts, which are as following

Faisalabad (Excluding those areas where Broadband was already available)
Jhang
Sargodha
Toba Tek Singh
Khushab
Bhakkar
Mianwali

After the pilot project of FTR (Faisalabad Telecom Region), Phase 1 will include

Phase 2 will cover following regions

You can click these links to know the current status of projects.

For a comprehensive information about what USF is, find out this interview with Mr. Parvez Iftikhar, CEO, USF.

http://www.smsheat.com/ Shani

Surely, Its a revolution in Pakistan’s broadband industry.
http://propakistani.pk Aamir Attaa

by the way, PKR 299 = 3 and half dollars
- http://www.smsheat.com Shani
  
  Cheapest in the world :) Hopefully It will be reliable too.
Jadd

Well overall scenerio is good that PTCL and USF offering 1Mb DSL for only 300Rs in rural areas but it may give a negatve impact on the people of rural beacuse the literacy level is very low as compared to urban areas and because of this people may abusing the internet ang go in the wrong direction. Which is obviously not good.
- A for apple
  
  Second that!!
http://abdussamad.com abdussamad

Seems like a waste of money subsidising end user pricing. Wouldn’t it be better if the USF spent that money on infrastructure instead? Maybe subsidise the laying of fibre optic lines or installation of cell towers?
http://mutanthuman.blogspot.com Mutant

I agree with Jadd.Obviously they will be exploring the dark side of the internet.
omerfarooq

WHOA! NEWS.
Aamir, Thanks for this big info. Another Pro page gone into my favorites.
Mohsin Javed

299/30=9.96 PKR per day its the chepest broadband all over the world. its great offer
http://guidepk.info Mohsin Javed

i think all cities of pakistan needs to this offer
http://www.pakmelody.com Khan

what a great offer. I think this the cheapest offer, ever offered in world.
A.R.S.

i totally agree with abdulsamad they should invest in the infrastructure rather than expanding the network the urban areas are more pathetic in case of the infrastructure … they should make all the copper to fiber and also those battery issues should be resolved
Khalid Chaudhry

plz muje batana ka ma kiss tara ya dsl la skta hu. pllzzz
Siraj Khan

Salam to All,

Will any one Mind letting me know if this service covers the valley of SWAT (Pukhtoonkhwa)? THanks in Advance.
Siraj Khan From the “Paradise on Earth” SWAT
http://sms4smile.com/category/diwali-sms/ Najam

nice iniative :) I wonder if it would be available to Sahiwal?
http://www.ahsan.pk Ahsan

People in rural areas have lower income compared to urban population. This is a good step.
abbas

this service covege in panjgur balochistan
Saqib Qureshi

Amir can u tell us still which cities area have covered? it need full detail because every one wana know that he/she can obtained it.
- http://propakistani.pk Aamir Attaa
  
  Please check your nearest PTCL exchange for the offer…!
daniyal

ye package karachi ma q nai hay yehan bhi kafi gareeb log hain this is unfair really
fayaz

hi
well its looks nice package but we r payin 1199/- permonth i think we should have 2mb on such pay if they can have 1mb on just 300 rs
good wishes
yasir jani

hi sir plz provid us DSL . i m from shabqaddar katozai from long time we are waiting for DSL so please sir do order this for us…………
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qaiser

hi all,

this is really a nice news but i am from abbottabad and this offer is not for abbottabad

still waiting for some nice dsl package
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Abbas

hey guys, does any one know about any wireless/mobile broadband service being offered in Mianwali region? Thanks in adavnce. Abbas
Kanyal

Asalam o Alaikum to all brothers
Have any body tried wateen service in Mianwali. How much area it covers, i mean in surroundings of mianwali. Does ptcl gives its DSL service in Harnoli, piplan Region. If any body knows please share that here. this is very good news that we are getting broadband in rural areas. don’t worry if there is a negative use of internet then there is lot of its positive use, when people know what is its good use then they don’t like to waste time and they can use it for study purpose, internet is very helpful in studies and sitting at your home you can learn every thing in free so i would like to say you people to encourage this service and do a positive use. this is great revolution. really very happy to know about it. this will make it possible for me to move to my native town forever, live there and enjoy real family life.
Any person from mianwali or its surrounding area having interest in computer science and IT (students are encouraged, if you are in this field, you have chosen right way for your career, i mean software development). i would like to have a contact with him.
Regards
kanyal
zakir hussain

how can we use dsl net @ rural areas.
sajjad ahmad

plz include our dargai malakand in all dsl packages.i am already dsl customer