Better Connectivity Options for Businesses in Semi-Urban Areas Are Needed

The latest economic and financial indicators updated by the Economist show that Pakistan’s GDP growth is steady at 5.7%. According to the State Bank annual report, the economy maintained its momentum towards a higher growth trajectory in FY16.

However, at a time of increasing demand and industrial growth, the corporate / SME sector operating in the cities other than Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad of the country is in dire need of better infrastructure and faster internet and data connectivity.

Currently, the businesses operating in these cities have the following options for their connectivity e.g. over the air fiber hanging on the poles (OTAF), DSL with on very old copper line infrastructure often out of order and ISM band radios with very high level of interference and frequent interruptions.

Corporate / SME sector in many cities is in dire need of better infrastructure and faster internet and data connectivity.

In addition, where the above is not available, customers rely on 128 Kbps to 512 Kbps satellite connectivity. These solutions carry with them a number of disadvantages such as high latency, high restoration time, limited data rates, and high cost of installation, deployment and maintenance.

Through unlicensed ISM bands, multiple users consume internet from the same limited spectrum which leads to increased congestion and interference and eventually results in compromised data and internet services.

The banking sector seems to be suffering the most in these areas. Banks need a superior data link to connect all the regional branches and offices with the head office.

Businesses need high capacities, low latencies, unlimited volumes, high spectral efficiency and flexible asymmetric service profiles, with affordable prices.

Banks also need connectivity on their ATMs. Because of the current unreliable connectivity solutions, the data link of these banks often breaks down which results into disturbances in online banking and difficulty in cash withdrawals for the end customer.

Eventually, the disappointed and frustrated customer ends up registering a complaint with the State Bank which results in heavy fines and penalties for the banks.

Although 4G / 3G services are available in these cities, these are targeted towards mobile broadband consumers and are consumer centric. Hence, there is an immediate need for advanced internet and data technologies in these smaller cities to cater for the demand of the business community.

The banking sector seems to be suffering the most from poor connectivity.

Its time for technologies which can provide high capacities, low latencies, unlimited volumes, high spectral efficiency and flexible asymmetric service profiles, with affordable prices.

Faster pace of businesses also mean that the deployment time needs to be reduced and efficient customer support facilities have to be ensured to provide instant resolutions so that the businesses never face any barrier in serving their customers and carrying out their businesses in the best possible way.

A corporate LTE Data / Internet service in the most internet-deprived cities is the need of the hour.

According to reliable sources, the sufferings of the business community / corporate sector in the smaller cities are about to end.

The corporate wing of one of the most renowned ISPs of Pakistan is about to launch Pakistan’s first premier corporate LTE Data / Internet service in the most internet-deprived cities.

The launch is expected to take place in the current month and the cities that will be facilitated include Quetta in Balochistan, Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sukkur and Hyderabad in Sindh, and Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan, Faisalabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan and Sargodha in Punjab.

The company is expected to invest upto USD 10 million in the next 3 years to improve the infrastructure for the business sector at large and becomes the operator of choice of the corporate / SME sector.