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Internet Data Usage Soaring in Pakistan
Soaring broadband subscriptions in Pakistan have helped drive a whopping 35X increase in Internet data usage since January 2014.
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| Rapid Rise in Broadband Subscription in Pakistan |
As the number of broadband subscriptions in Pakistan crossed 38 million in October 2016, the internet data usage jumped from 1,243 terabytes in January 2014 to 45,672 terabytes in September, 2016, according to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
A lot of new data traffic is being driven by 3G/4G equipped smartphones running a variety of applications ranging from social media to consumer and business apps.
Mobile Broadband:
Mobile broadband (3G/4G) subscriptions have jumped from almost zero in 2014 to 34 million as of September, 2016. It has been accompanied by corresponding increase in the number of smartphones which is expected to cross 40 million mark this year.
Applications:
Growth of 3G/4G networks and smartphones has spawned a variety of applications from social media apps to business, education and entertainment apps. Use of Facebook, Twitter and Youtube has soared. E-commerce is growing. Taxi-hailing service Uber has arrived in the country. Netflix has entered the Pakistani market. Government is making use of the Internet applications to deliver services.
Digital Cable, DTH:
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is pushing all cable service providers to support digital television. PEMRA is also auctioning Direct-to-Home (DTH) service which is digital. Both of these mediums will help increase internet broadband penetration in the country and bring more and more people on line.
Internet Infrastructure:
Rapid growth of data is driving infrastructure improvements in Pakistan. Tens of thousands of kilometers of fiber is being laid to cope with rising Internet traffic. Universal Service Fund (USF) alone has installed 5,500 kilometers of fiber in underserved areas of the country to increase digital inclusion.
Pakistan currently has 16 data centers: 8 in Karachi, 5 in Lahore and 3 in Islamabad. The numbers are expected to grow significantly with growing demand.
Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has set up the first Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in Islamabad and more are planned for other major cities. IXPs connect Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) like Amazon and Akamai to facilitate faster delivery of web pages and other content to users.
Digital Inclusion:
Beginning in October 2016, Pakistani government is giving away five million smartphones to farmers in the country in an effort to improve knowledge of modern farming techniques, according to the BBC. Large numbers of farmers in countries such as India and Kenya have also recently experimented with smartphone technology.
In addition, the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has announced plans to give away 30,000 smartphones with 3G subscriptions funded by Universal Service Fund (USF) to low income Pakistanis on BISP. Each smartphone will have Rs. 250 balance per month. It is intended to enhance digital and financial inclusion, according to a report in Pakistan Observer.
The objective of giving away smartphones is to help increase farmers' productivity. Digital access is is expected to reduce poverty in rural and semi-urban areas of Pakistan by supporting micro and small enterprises. Market access to the products of marginalized segments will improve their welfare and at the same time boost the national economy.
Lack of financial inclusion and the growing digital divide are known impediments to progress of the low-income and poor segments of the population. Any effort by the government to remove such impediments will help Pakistan's economy by making more people more productive.
Summary:
Internet data usage is soaring with rapidly rising broadband penetration and smartphone ownership in Pakistan. Infrastructure is being improved to cater to the digital data explosion taking place in the country. Universal Service Fund (USF) is playing its part to support this effort in underserved areas.
Related Links:
Bridging Digital Divide in Pakistan
Fiber Connectivity in Pakistan
Riaz Haq
Here is How Much Internet Pakistanis Consumed in 2022
https://propakistani.pk/2023/01/17/here-is-how-much-internet-pakist...
Every Pakistani broadband user consumed 81 GB of data in FY22, which showed double-digit growth of 11 percent as compared to the average yearly internet consumption which stood at 73 GB per person in FY21.
During the period under review, 8,970 petabytes of mobile data usage was reported in Pakistan, indicating a 31 percent increase from the previous year. Five years ago, mobile data usage in the country stood at 1,262 petabytes.
Jan 23, 2023
Riaz Haq
Pakistan’s ‘largest’ OTT platform streams original content from Hollywood, other studios
https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2273296/pakistan
Titled SHOQ, the streaming app allows registration of up to five devices with two concurrent sessions
Pakistani Internet users can opt from various packages ranging from Rs8 per day to Rs120-299 a month
KARACHI: Pakistan’s “largest” Over-The-Top platform, SHOQ, offers an interesting lineup of original local and international shows, a Pakistani telecom official said, describing the platform as the country’s “ultimate entertainment solution.”
SHOQ is a subscription-based streaming app that works on the Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) model and PTCL-provided TV dongles, enabling users to avail multi-screen services from any place, anytime through smartphones, tablets, laptops, Android Smart TVs and Android TV Boxes.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), a subsidiary of e& that was formerly known as the Etisalat Group, officially launched the platform in late January, aiming to provide a “superior” and “immersive” viewing experience to all data users in Pakistan.
SHOQ allows registration of up to five devices with two concurrent sessions at a time. It is available for all Pakistani data users on “customer-friendly” daily, weekly, and monthly bases, according to Pasha. Customers can opt from various packages ranging from Rs8 per day to Rs120-299 a month.
“We have original content with rights from Hollywood studios like Warner, Sony, etc. The content ranges from blockbuster movies to highly rated and acclaimed series,” Amir Pasha, a PTCL group director, told Arab News on Tuesday.
“We believe that SHOQ has what it takes to be the country’s ultimate entertainment solution.”
Pasha said they believed a high-quality local OTT entertainment service was much needed that was not only affordable but also customized to local tastes and preferences, given the increasing Internet penetration in Pakistan.
While the platform does not offer Indian content, the official said it did have a wide range of local and international content that was liked by the subscribers.
“Content acquisition is a continuous process to add value to the platform and for customer retention. We will continue R&D (research and development) and will bring in more content that matches the customer requirements and entertainment needs,” Pasha said.
“We are focusing on local content in addition to international content that will allow SHOQ to gain more market [share]. SHOQ penetration is on the positive growth trajectory and we believe it will take some time to strengthen our footprint across the country.”
SHOQ also hosts one hundred most-watched local and international live TV channels, Pakistani movies and originals to cater to the entertainment needs of the entire family, according to a PTCL statement.
“We are pleased to support the development of Pakistan’s largest OTT platform, powered by PTCL,” Khalifa Al-Shamsi, the CEO of e& life, said at the launch of SHOQ in January.
“We are confident that this new service will add great value to the people of Pakistan. e& will continue to support the PTCL Group, especially in its new chapter of creating a digital future that empowers every person in society to create innovative digital services and tap into new customer segments, building success upon success.”
May 25, 2023
Riaz Haq
Profit
@Profitpk
In 2016, Netflix entered Pakistan and quickly proved the country was more than ready to shift from television to streaming. But despite the early success, Netflix has been dethroned as the leading OTT platform in the country by Tamasha. This is that story:
https://x.com/Profitpk/status/1866726498310185060
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Profit
@Profitpk
The answer is simple. Tamasha’s success, and indeed the success of other platforms such as ARY Zap and Tapmad, has been through streaming cricket. But what do the numbers look like? For the full picture, read on at:
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/12/09/streaming-wars-has-j...
https://x.com/Profitpk/status/1866726500742865192
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The days of passive television consumption are long gone. Viewers now command their entertainment destiny, summoning favorite shows with a mere tap on a smartphone or click of a remote. Streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Disney have revolutionized how we consume content, transforming television from a scheduled experience to an on-demand universe.
Binge-watching has become more than a trend—it’s a cultural phenomenon. Viewers no longer wait for weekly episodes; entire seasons are devoured in marathon sessions, reflecting an insatiable appetite for storytelling that transcends traditional media boundaries.
For countries in South Asia, this digital content revolution arrived fashionably late. Limited internet access and prohibitive subscription costs initially kept the region on the periphery of the global streaming landscape. But that was then.
Today, digital content consumption has evolved into a nuanced, immersive experience. Unlike fleeting digital interactions, Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms now offer meticulously curated content that commands viewers’ undivided attention. The average OTT session now stretches far longer than traditional digital engagements, signaling a profound shift towards intentional, quality viewing.
This transformation has birthed a fascinating global content ecosystem in Pakistan. K-pop and K-dramas from South Korea sit alongside Japanese anime, while American psychological thrillers and Turkish historical narratives serve as a testament to the borderless nature of modern entertainment. Platforms like Netflix have become global cultural conduits, offering libraries that reflect this rich, diverse content landscape.
While Netflix dominated the Pakistani market since 2016, the post-COVID streaming landscape has become a battleground of emerging platforms. Amid numerous launches and quick exits, one player has emerged distinctly: Tamasha, Jazz’s OTT platform, which has carved a remarkable niche in merely three years.
But has Tamasha truly cracked the code of Pakistan’s streaming market? To understand its strategy and the broader competitive dynamics, Profit dives into the intricate world of streaming platforms.
on Wednesday