Choosing Between 3G and Enriched EDGE Services

Pakistan’s Telecom market is on verge to hit 3G. There are strong speculations, that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will not delay its emergence, though 3G coming in Pakistan is directly dependent on multiple things other than PTA itself.

There would be three 3G licenses available for five operating cellular companies. Well, this is will be decided later on (through bidding) that who will win the license and vice versa. But before that, join me in this discussion if cellular companies should go for 3G or there is a room available in enhancement and bettering already available EDGE services to meet mobile broadband requirements.

Every mobile operator is providing EDGE services through USB dongles or EDGE PCMCIA cards with different packages available ranging from hourly pricing to unlimited upload/download. But unfortunately, EDGE services are limited to major cities only while rest of Pakistan especially rural areas of country is left with GPRS in hands only – which is ‘Slow Speed note more than 3 Kb/s in many cases.

Even major cities of Pakistan are not fully covered with EDGE, like just take twin cities Islamabad / Rawalpindi as an example, if you visit some slum and well known areas of these cities, you will see GPRS sign along with 3G on your mobile phone.

We all know that EDGE is supposed to offer 384kbps connection that should support download speed of 40 Kbps, but these EDGE networks are normally seen to offer 256 kbps connection with download speed not exceeding 4 to 5 kbps. Few prefer using dialup connection instead of using highly claimed EDGE services.

I am confident that majority of customers will be contented if they receive EDGE with true network speed. Prior to 3G, it is vastly believed that PTA should bring forward it’s framework for current EDGE services by mobile operators.


  • Instead of 3G EDGE is a better option for Pakitsan for atlteast 2 years. It is cheap. 3G would be expensive and PTA is demanding a huge lisence fee.

    As far as covarage is concerned, Warid offers you with the best EDGE coverage in Pakistan, I am not that sure about other networks.

    Download speed depends upon alot of factors, one of them is shared media, the more users the lesser speed. Currently I am using warid EDGE in Lahore and most of the time it gives me 20 and also sometimes 25 kbps

  • Telenor have edge network every where in pakistan but problem is packages im using zong unlimited package its quite good service telenor plz low your gprs service charges

    • Mention your City where you gets 6 KB/sec download speed which I guess GPRS speed. If you are on EDGE network with EDGE class 10 (236 Kilobits/sec) enabled mobile then you will get speed around 20-25 Kilobytes/sec download speed. I am getting this in Karachi. See this screenshot which I have taken on 30 April, 2009 at about 3PM:

      http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o292/usman100/ScreenShots/ZongSpeed101.gif

      This means that ZoNG EDGE has 256 kbps connection. You must have compatible hardware (EDGE enabled mobile) to get maximum speed.

  • Does any one has some deep knowledge that when telenor is starting its unlimited gprs in PREPAID? Please some one tell me by asking any telenor’s reliable person. Please reply me at my email [email protected]

  • Can u please give specs or prices of any best and economical/affordable edge enabled mobile or device?

    Thanks!

    How much current telenor unlimited internet package costs?

  • LET 3G COME IN PAKISTAN WE WANT IT ALL PAKISTANIS ARE EXCITED AND THEY WILL BUY 3G MOBILES EVEN FROM THEIR “GHALLAS” WE NEED IT GPRS SPEED=1KB EDGE SPEED=5KB 3G=3.1MB REAL TIME RATING SPEED IN PAKISTAN

  • Its working now, I just fixed it out my self.

    I want to know how can we use BIS Services for free ?


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