Breaking: Link Dot Net Considering to Quit Operations in Pakistan

By Aamir Attaa | 25, Apr 2012 | 51 Comments

Link Dot Net, Orascom’s fully owned subsidiary for DSL broadband services and sister concerns of Mobilink, is considering to wrap up its operations in Pakistan, amid low returns and to shift the group focus on core cellular services and branchless banking.

Sources familiar with the development have confirmed ProPakistani that LDN has decided in principle to exit Pakistani market.

Link Dot Net has DSL operations and a WiMAX license through Dancom, which it might quit, told us a company official.

However, final decision is yet to come after annual board meeting of Pakistan Mobile Communication Limited, a company under which Orascom operates in Pakistan. Meeting is scheduled for May 15th, 2012 in Islamabad.

Another source in the company told ProPakistani that decision is yet to be made, hence nothing can be said as of now. But yes, group is considering an option to quit operations in Pakistan.

Orascom had bought World On Line and Dancom to offer DSL broadband services in Pakistan. Link Dot Net, after in operations, has been facing tough competition from PTCL, country’s largest DSL broadband service provider. In addition to competition, analysts say, LDN was victim of anti-competitive practices by the telecom giant.

Update:

Link Dot Net has a WiMAX license, we were just told, though Dancom, which it is considering to quit.

Mobilink Infinity won’t be impacted with the decision.

Abdullah

OMG..!
Saeed

Ohhh mera Internet ka ab kia hoga.

Yani ab PTCL kay sath jana pare ga. NAHIIIIIIIII
- http://twitter.com/sachakaka Sacha Kaka
  
  haha mujhay bhi pareshani hay Linkdotnet kay sath sakoon say waqt guzar raha tha 250Rs less charges main.
  
  Ab wo he PTCL dsl per jana parday ga.
  Un kay sath banda internet kum istemal karta hay aur call center per ziyada rabtay main rehta hay :(
  - Muhammed Ovais Alam
    
    Ziada rabtay main rehnay se mohabbat barhti hai… PTCL maahir hai is cheez main :)
http://www.pakistanprobe.com Shahzad Afzal

Bad news for Pakistani Internet users… so monopoly of PTCL will rock again…
Imran Khan Dakait

@Aamir ata, thank you for feeding your audience with a baseless piece of information.

Seems like you are now following broadcast media’s unethical norms to market your blog.
- Shaan
  
  Yep this news will kill Link Dot Net business for sure. even if they don’t want to warp their service in near future.
  In fact this is not a news it’s a fuse.
Salma Sitara

@Aamir ata, thank you for feeding your audience with a baseless piece of information.

Seems like you are now following broadcast media’s unethical norms to market your blog.
- Karigar
  
  Salman stop trying to be holier than thou. Nothing wrong with this post. The news has been circling around for ages. Kudos to the team for making it available to us (who can now seriously start looking for jobs at other companies).
  - Shaan
    
    @Karigar
    You seems like belong to PTCL.
    - Shahid Saleem
      
      When you cannot reply to any of the raised points and you attack the person, then you have lost.
      
      You lose, Shaan.
      
      And by the way the truth does not change no matter who says it.
Pyari

Thanks God. I have nothing to do with this concern . I’m already a PTCL user. ._.
SSyar

damnnnnn
oo jaan deo

GEO News he lagay ho.

taking out words for a speech; unko tooor maroor kr paish karnay ka mahir… without looking at the context on the matter, spreading fake news is illegal and harmfull.
Munni

@Aamir ata, do you have an offer from tehelka.com ?…You have great potential and talent for flooding rumors….
atif

yaar this is bad news… now i have to find another connection for home use… i hope they don’t wrap up business LDN because i am satisfied by their services.
Abdullah

Can you please change the headline now? Its deceiving.
- admin
  
  ???
hassan

same new on your website in 2009
- admin
  
  That was about Link Dot Net Egypt, and it was sold later on. However, LDN Pakistan wasn’t included in the deal.
  
  http://propakistani.pk/2009/02/23/orascom-decides-to-sell-linkdotnet/
  - Shahid
    
    admin incorrect news, incorrect context and incorrect references..
    Please base your news and facts that can be verified.
    - Maximusss
      
      Just talked to a friend in linkdotnet and the news is true…
Umer Inayat

Bad news for me………. :(
ab phr say PTCL :(
http://qasim.raptehpk.com Qasim Raza

Realy Its bad news for pakistanii internet users LDN service are much good than PTCL or Other Service provider bcz of thier teachincal Suupport Customer Support and other employess. I was wokring in this compnay i have spent great time in LDN real bad news …
- Farhan Hussain
  
  Yeah Qasim; Its a bad story
zain

are they still here?
i thought they had gone long ago
http://www.ghumfree.pk Buy and Sell In Pakistan

To survive in Market you need to come up with best of best.PTCL is really going fast as technology is concerned but really they will have to improve their speed as well.
Zeeeeee

NAHIIIII!!!!

They cannot do this!! I am satisfied by LDN service! If they do wind up, they should shift their customers to Mobilink Infinity at same rate/package. They cannot leave us at mercy of PTCL!
Alam

Why is my earlier comment on this post still awaiting moderation?
- admin
  
  To get it approved, can you rephrase it in better language?
  - Usman
    
    Hi Aamir,
    There is a hell of difference between LDN Telecom and LDN Pakistan. Try asking your sources about that.
    And please research and share if LDN is closing its operations of DSL then whats the new thing they will introduce.I know whats coming. And i request you to please research and get information accordingly. Please verify before u post!
    There is no such thing like “quit Infinity”. they are just cancelling the license of Infinity related to dancom. Mobilink Infinity will be there as well as LDN.
udas bacha

sad… those who were working in british petroleum went job less when B.P annouced to end its business in pak, same gonna happened to link do net employees :( pak khappy! :@
Abbas

I purchased their connection in January 2010. At that time I asked their representative why Link Dot Net doesn’t start publicity through media ? He replied that it doesn’t harm their cause.

I think this is the cause of their failure !!
No doubt their service is far better than PTCL but only few know Link Dot Net. I haven’t seen a single commercial of them on media.

Do you people agree?

I am also questioning myself that who else other than Link Dot Net can give me unlimited 1MB DSL connection in 885/- monthly ???
- Karigar
  
  885 a month? thats why they went out of business. Sorry but that is the truth.
  
  bandwidth cost and not enough volume because ptcl dont allow dsl on new fiber optic lines is the reason.
  
  The time of low prices are history and PTCL can finally raise ARPU.
Mustafa Khan

@Aamir you wrote in update that LDN has Wimax license but Infinity is not impacted. Infinity is Wimax service so how is it not impacted? The frequencies and Wimax licenses are the only assets for Infinity or LDN since Wimax is a failed technology. As per pta reserve price for May auction these licenses are themselves are worth 27.9M dollars!
- admin
  
  Infinity told me that they have 2 WiMAX licenses, one came through Dancom. They won’t quit Infinity but will abandon Dancom’s WiMAX license (if board meeting decided so). This is what they told me officially.
Muhammad Anas

Thumbs Up to PTCL!

Now the quality of their service will go worse and worse as all LDN users will (unwillingly) switch to PTCL.
Imran Shah

thats sad….i still remember their top notch customer service….i had LDN dsl for 2 years and then our local exchange got updated with fiber optic, Ldn folks told me we cant give you a new connection because we dont have fiberoptic….had to choose PTCL (which is also good) …anyway feel really bad for the employees….dont worry guys Inshallah you will find another good job!
http://abdulqadoos.com/ Abdul Qadoos

poor linkdotnet users :P
Fakhre alam

Sach karwa q lagta hy tmhy amir?
Haider

And LDN’s employes has got there salary increased by this month :)
Haris

LDN :/ y0ur satisfied user is n0w sad0fied user .. ptcl pe t0 khuda ki lanat hy, wahcantt mey ghatia tareen service hy, LDN ki services aala hain 0r rahi hain hamesha se .. mera t0 dil nahi hy PTCL k khauu logo ka muu b dekhny ka .. i hope asa naa ho ..
Saad Tariq

Em using LDN from last 2 years it cost me only 735 with unlimited downloading in 1MB. Previously I was using PTCL but their serivirs really sucks…using PTCL DSL you keep on busy on calling complain centre and less on surfing…hope so LDN dun quiet their operations…as PTCL py tou Khuda ki lanat ha :)
- Rifat Mangho
  
  I hope it is now clear that Rs 735 is not a sustainable price for unlimited internet broadband even for 1mbps.
  
  People get ready for higher prices. These temporary prices were seen because of over competition.
  - Karigar
    
    HAHHAAH 100% spot on. PTCL will drive others out of business and only it will remain and then raise prices.
mazhar

with wimax and dsl infrastructure, they must not go away, twist ur strategy and bring new value-added service in market.
http://itwebsols.com Adeel

This is not good news… PTCL now only offer DSL on Fiber Optics Cable… and when there is no electricity… Fiber Optics number did not work… means no internet while no electricity….. tooo bad.
http://www.ptcl.com.pk Nadeem

PTCL offer 50% discount and NO installation FEE for LDN users in Gujranwala, Sialkot and Gujrat Only…….SO HURRY UP AND ENJOY THIS LIMITED OFFER FROM PTCL …… HURRAYYYYYYYY
http://www.ptcl.com.pk FAIZA

AM THE USER OF PTCL FROM LAST 3 YEARS, ITS LITTLE EXPENSIVE BUT WHAT A BLASTING SERVICES FROM PTCL, LIVE LONG PTCL…..

===LDN WALOOOO AGHAR APNAY PAPA KAY HOOO TO AB PTCL PAY NA AANA, BACHU.===
Muhammad Aslam

Ya Allah is country k awam ko Siasat dano or PTCL se nijat dela de (AAMEEN)
Junaid Abbasi

Sab sa Bakwas servis ha ldn walon ki in ko complain kro to ya theek hi nahi krty.mera 2 month sa net harab tha lakin ya theek hi nhi krty.