WiMAX in Pakistan

July 2, 2008 11:43 AM

Where's WiMAX?

Wateen Telecom (A UAE based subsidiary) has been in the works of deploying one of the largest WiMAX network in Pakistan. This network is being deployed by Motorola under a $60 million (USD) deal to deploy and implement the MOTOwi4™ nationwide wireless broadband voice and data network all over the country.

In a press release last year, Wateen Telecom hoped to have the WiMAX system deployed by the second half of 2006, but to date nothing seems to have materialized. Going to their website at http://www.wateen.com/index.aspx shows no updates in regards to deployment or anything else. A single blog by the chairman states that “We are running on a very tight schedule these days. The launch is drawing near and there seems to be extraordinary activity going on at Wateen.” I have seen this same blog since last year.

On a separate note, Dancom Telecom (A Malaysian based Subsidiary) has made a similar promise in a press release in 2006 of deploying Redline Communications RedMAX WiMAX solution. If you go to their website http://www.dancom.com.pk/ there is no mention of WiMAX and the only services they offer is DSL and dial up.

It seems that every ISP in Pakistan is promising a WiMAX solution, but till date no one has delivered or even discussed any test site results.