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Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 12:20:53 +0500 (GMT+0500) From: Tee Emm <tm@super.net.pk> To: Steven <sghuter@nsrc.org> cc: root@its.super.net.pk Subject: Internet Access In Pakistan - A Brief Review INTERNET ACCESS IN PAKISTAN - A BRIEF REVIEW About this document This document is a brief review of the availability of Internet Access in Pakistan. It is mainly intended for overseas Pakistanis who are eager to know about the situation over here in this regard. It might be of interest to those who need an overview of Internet connectivity in this part of the world. All the information contained in this document have been collected personally by the author. I have collected the information with a very good spirit and have compiled it without any bias. This document don't get updated very frequently and the information provided here might be outdated. Please send updates to the author via email so that the document could be modified accordingly. 1. SDNP SDNPK - Sustainable Development Networking Pakistan was the first true service provider in Pakistan. They started off-line UUCP email services in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawer. SDNPK provided email access to the computer users at a nominal cost and hence they attracted a large number of computer users who were eager to get a glimpse of Internet and related technology. Today, when online Internet access is readily available in most of the cities of Pakistan, SDNP still boast the largest community of users - about 10,000+ users in four cities. The count seems to grow with time because computer users from lower income groups sees a financialy feasible mean of getting connected to the Internet. SDNPK can be reached at: root@sdnpk.undp.org (Islamabad), root@khi.sdnpk.undp.org (Karachi), root@edunet.sdnpk.undp.org (Lahore), root@pwr.sdnpk.undp.org (Peshawer). 2. Digicom Internet Services They are the first to provide Online Internet access in Pakistan. Their online service brought a bonanza in the computer users' life as everyone was desparate to get a first hand experience of Internet. Digicom still operates its services in Karachi with around 4000 users. They have a satellite connection to Singnet of 64 Kbps and another 128 Kbps connection from Comsats, a Bandwidth provider in Pakistan. Digicom has an email-only netowrk in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawer. Digicom charges Rs. 25 per hour (off peak) and Rs. 50 per hour (peak). Digicom is at root@digicom.net.pk, http://www.digicom.net.pk 3. BrainNet During the time SDNPK and Digicom were making good business, BrainNet started its offline UUCP services extensively in Lahore and other regions of Punjab. With a dynamic leadership, BrainNet quickly penetrated in the market of students, common computer users and small businesses. Even today, BrainNet offers its classical UUCP services at a very low cost. They also provide online Internet access in Lahore where they reportedly charge Rs. 70 per hour. BrainNet also managed to build up a sizeable customer base for its email-only services here in Karachi. BrainNet can be reached at: root@brain.net.pk and root@khi.brain.net.pk http://www.brain.net.pk 4. Infolink Infolink was a company that comprised of a very talented team but they suffered for not keeping with the pace of the market. Other companies which came late in the market, grew more quickly leaving Infolink behind. However, Infolink is reportedly alive and can be reached at root@infolink.net.pk 5. CompuNet Compunet offers complete online Internet access to around 3000 users. Compunet started their services with a limited number of users and the responce time was very good. However, CompuNet quickly degraded their modem to users ratio and today they are notorious for slow connections. CompuNet offers services for Rs. 45 per hour. Compunet has a 64 Kbps link to Internet. Compunet has around 100 telephone lines for its dial up subscribers. Compunet is at http://www.col.com.pk and at root@khi.compol.com 6. Cybernet Cybernet started its services in Karachi with a very huge budget and a very strong marketting team. Cybernet currently boasts the largest bandwidth in Pakistan - 1 MBPS. Cybernet offers full-fledged online Internet access. They have 250 telephone lines. Cybernet is at http://wwww.cyber.net.pk and root@cyber.net.pk 7. AsterNet Asternet is on Online Internet Service provider operating in Lahore. Asternet share the satellite bandwidth with BrainNet and LUMS (Lahore University of Management Sciences). They can be reached at root@aster.com.pk or http://www.aster.com.pk 8. IBM's IGN IBM started it's IBM Global Network in Karachi. With the IBM's brandname behind the service, they were an immediate success. However, the 'unlimited use' policy of IGN quickly attracted facility-abusers and the common users could not get a free line to connect to the service. Lately, IBM revised its tarriff policy and disabled the multiple logins that were allowed previously. This has improved the connection availibility situation a lot. IBM charges any major credit card for Rs. 1500 per month for unlimited use. IBM is at http://www.ibm.net. 9. Supernet Supernet offers a range of Internet connectivity services to the general public. They are the most awaited ISP in Pakistan because they're the first ISP which is also a Data Network Operator. Supernet has its own VSAT network across Pakistan. Supernet offers VSAT links, Radio links to various national and multinational companies for their data communication needs. Supernet has its own X.25 network that runs on its TDM/TDMA physical network. Apart from these data network facilities and services, Supernet also offers a wide range of Internet services. Supernet has the most flexible network design that allows it go for as much as 2 MBPS as and when required for its Online Internet access. Supernet has its presence in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and is planning to extend the network to around 5 more cities. ***Supernet supports GRIC. This means that users of ISPs that are members of GRIC can use thier account while travelling in Pakistan via Supernet. Their billing will be done at their respective ISPs.*** Supernet is at http://www.super.net.pk and info@super.net.pk 10. PTC (Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation) The only ISP in the government sector, PTC offers the cheapest connection to the Internet for Rs. 10 per hour. The huge hardware base (telephone lines, X.25 network etc.) that is avialable makes it stand out from other ISPs. However, being in the public sector, the customer support is almost non-existant. PTC is at http://www.ptc.pk. PTC has a 512 KBPS link to Internet and is expected to increase the bandwidth soon. 11. Comsats Comsats has a strong network base and operates in Karachi and Islamabad. The have a 512 KBPS link to Internet and are reportedly collaborating with UUNET US to offer Internet services with a pipe of 8 MBPS. Comsats charges Rs 100 per hour for their Online Internet Services. Comsats offers port connectivity to the corporate customers directly from its routers' ports. Comsats is the only other ISP beside Supernet that offer port connectivity at relatively high speeds. Comsats has 150 lines for its dialup access servers. Comsats can be reached at http://www.comsats.net.pk. MISC: Nexlinx (Lahore), NetAsia, PieNet, GemNet, CyberAccess (All Karachi), MSNet (Lahore) are some of the emerging new ISPs which are in the making. Prepared by: Tariq Mustafa <tm@poboxes.com> Last updated on: 22nd October, 1997 -- most updated version of this writeup can be had from the autoresponder: iaip@its.super.net.pk. Please make sure you give credit where it is due. Tariq Mustafa <tm@poboxes.com>.
