Connectivity Providers Database

From: Tee Emm <tm@super.net.pk> To: Maria Dolores Lizarzaburu <mlizarza@darkwing.uoregon.edu> Time: Thu, 27 May 2004 19:39:11 +0500 Subject: Re: The current state of the Internet in Pakistan >1)Could you please provide updated information of the Internet >Service Providers in Pakistan? PTCL as a commercial entity is the default upstream ISP for 98% of the ISPs in Pakistan. PTCL operates a division named ITI (Information Technology Infrastructure) to cater for the Internet and Data communication requirement of PTCL's customers in Pakistan. Under ITI, PTCL has taken up various projects to bring reliable Internet bandwidth in bulk for its users in Pakistan. Currently, two such projects are Pakistan Internet Exchange (called PIE) and FLAG VPOP (FLAG Virtual Point of Presence). *PIE:* PIE has three points of presence, each in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. International connectivity of PIE is: 1 STM1 over SEMEWE3 submarine optical fiber cable system from Singtel at PIE Karachi, 1 STM1 over SEMEWE3 submarine optical fiber cable system from BT (UK) at PIE Karachi 2 E3s over Satellite from Intelsat at PIE Karachi 1 E3 over Satellite from BT (UK) at PIE Islamabad >---------------------------------------------------------------------> >*Total: 412 MB* > >---------------------------------------------------------------------> /PTCL has recently released a RFP for an STM1 connectivity for Internet on SMW4 submari ne cable system. This is aimed at reducing the current dependency on the physical infrastructure of SMW3 which is working as the sole exist point for nationwide Internet connectivity. /*FLAG VPOP:* FLAG submarine optical fiber cable does not yet terminate physically in Pakistan. However, to provide redundancy and diversification in the services, ITI has provisioned FLAG's bandwidth as well. To do this, FLAG has leased capacity from SEMEWE3 to establish a virtual Point of Presence in Pakistan. 3 STM1s have been provisioned at the FLAG VPOP in Karachi *which totals a 155X3=465 Mbps.* It must be noted that any physical disruption in the SMW3 cable system affects FLAG services in Pakistan. *International Private Line Circuits:* Around 20 E1 circuits have been subscribed by various Internet Service Providers and corporate houses in Pakistan to obtained Internet bandwidth from major International service providers directly bypassing the PIE and FLAG set up.* This estimate roughly aggregates to 40 MB of Internet Bandwidth.* *Satellite Based Simplex Services:* Due to the various factors such as lack of competition, few service providers, high-cost of fiber-based Internet bandwidth (effectively dictated by the state incumbent), lack of fiber and copper infrastructure etc satellite based simplex services are very popular in Pakistan. A large number of service providers are marketing their simplex (mostly DVB-IP based) service either directly or through commissioned based representatives in Pakistan. Intelsat, Europestar, Eutelsat, NSS, and Speedcast are popular choices.* At around 50 MB per service provider an estimated 250 MB is being used as simplex Internet bandwidth in Pakistan.* /Footnote: Rooftop satellite Internet Gateways are still lying in the legal gray area. Dependency on the existing SMW3 submarine cable is dangerously high and the backup circuits (Es based on satellite) arranged by ITI are insufficient to meeting even part of the peak requirement. There is a high need of allowing rooftop satellite gateways in Pakistan that could possibility be operated by a foreign entity or by a consortium of local ISPs. Such a setup can diversify the Internet connectivity of the nation and result in a more stable Internet./ >2) Is there an open, public Internet Exchange point in Country? If so, please >provide its URL. No and Yes. No because there is no independent, neutral public Internet exchange (there are various reasons behind this not yet being set up yet). And yes because Pakistan Internet Exchange- PIE (above described) operated by PTCL as a commercial entity is the default upstream ISP for 98% of the ISPs in Pakistan and as such it is the defacto IX here. Those ISPs do not get any benefit out of this default peering and had to pay for regular Internet bandwidth obtained from PIE is a separate, thorny issue. PTCL's website is http://www.ptcl.com.pk >3)Could you please provide contact information for the ISPs in Pakistan? To reach any particular ISP's technical contact or reach all of them in a single go, there is nothing better than sending out email to ispak@ispak.net.pk, the Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan. The list is moderated but the maintainers (which includes myself) pass on interesting/important emails to the list members. >4) Do you know about any links to information about the academic >networking development? Academic institutes are still gearing themselves up for basic campus networking. Lots of them have acquired Internet bandwidth from PIE on commercial terms and rates to provide on campus and dialup services to their staff and teachers. But the situation in Pakistan is still far from one that would see academic institutes take some innovative steps towards building inter-institute networks. Regards, Tariq Mustafa | Cell: +92-320-433-7791, Fax: +92-21-587-1869 tm@super.net.pk> | Fax (US): +1-815-3712854 Internet Technologies | AIM:abunet MSN:tm@hotmail.com ICQ: 10095853 Supernet Limited | http://www.super.net.pk/about