Netxpress Mar Edition 2002
The epicenter of any tech-quake hitting the North has to be Islamabad, due to obvious reasons. The latest tremor was caused by Ufone, which shook hands with Nortel Networks, whereas PTCL had already asked for business partnerships. Ufone has taken their first step forward by promoting DSL in Islamabad through Micronet. They are looking forward to building a long-term and broad-scope relationship.
There is a lull amongst the AMPS sisters, i.e., Mobilink, Instaphone, and Paktel. Mobilink would rather wait for another blunder from Ufone. It has been a wonderful experience for the Star people to eat up the leftovers whenever Ufone got a bureaucratic fit. On the other hand, the AMPS sisters are on the synergy drive. Their co-locating facilities and outsourcing support departments are likely to make their prices competitive, which is essential for them to tackle the GSM mania. They must also be considering gradual migration to Western technology with a strong belief in “slow and steady wins the race.”
As for the ISP industry in the North, well, the cutthroat competition in Lahore is unfortunately still not permeating to the neighboring cities. Islamabad lacks the ISP culture that is so obvious in Karachi and Lahore. This can partly be ascribed to the lack of seriousness shown by ISPs at large. COMSATS and PakNet have also played a considerable role in creating this void in the Islamabad marketplace.
The Chinese are making a niche for themselves by placing their “boxes” everywhere. Huawei and ZTE, arch-rivals in China’s market, seem to have a clandestine understanding in Pakistan. Not only have they set up their systems in PTCL and SCO, but they are also decorating the shelves of ISPs as well as the end-user corporate sector. Gone are the days when Siemens and Alcatel were the only ones on the floor.
“The House is full” in the Awami Markaz. Thanks to the Evacuee Trust building! Software and transcription people can now find a decent place right next to the Marriot in Islamabad.
Despite all the recession (or depression, one might argue), the software business seems to move on in Pakistan, particularly in Islamabad. The Sprint Festival in Lahore seems to have inspired entrepreneurs. Feet are moving once again. New ventures, expansions, and partnerships have created a pleasant atmosphere. The job market is showing bullish trends after a long time. Signs are good, and hopes are high.
