2005 WAS the year when an earthquake devastated the northern areas of Pakistan, when Katrina exposed the shortcomings of an unprepared superpower, and when a simple fault in an undersea cable left Pakistan vulnerable and isolated in the online world.
A lot happened in the technology world last year but not everything can be covered here. For Pakistanis, the high drama of the year was the fault in the undersea cable which transported the country to an island of darkness which was surrounded by the global digital info bahn.
The fault snapped Pakistan’s internet connectivity and international telephony services on June 27. The fault that played havoc with our digital connections was detected south of Karachi in the Sea-Me-We-3 (South East Asia Middle East Western Europe-3) submarine cable. Thirty-nine thousand kilometres long with 39 landing points in 33 countries in Europe, Asia Pacific and Australia, there were numerous other countries on the affected segment of the cable, including India, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Djibouti. However, the country most affected by the fault was none other than our very own. The cable was, after all, the country’s only link with the online world.
The damage crippled the lines of communication to and from the country, with the internet services grinding to a halt as users had to experience the frustration of doing without chatting or browsing facilities for a number of days. Call centres also found themselves unable to operate seamlessly.
This may seem bad enough, but the fact remained that the country’s lifeline depended on just one cable which was rendered useless by the fault, driving home the point that the government needed to do more. Millions, if not billions in investment, were lost due to the internet breakdown.
Services returned to normal after two months, but the damage had already been done in the international market. The government is now setting up a second link.
On a brighter note, the internet on the whole showed continuing signs of prosperity. Dialup remained the prime source of connection, while broadband slowly crept into the foray.
The other big news of the year was the telecom sector. As deregulation took roots in the country, foreign investors flocked to have their share in the seemingly bottomless well of opportunities. The state-owned and monopolistic Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, the largest landline-based telco in the country, was privatized as the UAE telecom giant Etisalat bought 26 per cent of the firm.
Though the final agreement did not come without drama (following a strike by the workforce and a hitch in the execution of the initial agreement) it was clear that the authorities were serious in cutting down their expenses drastically, albeit through privatization.
The other big telecom news was the entry of two new cellphone service providers into the country — Warid and Telenor. The competition resulted in a drastic reduction in the call and connection rates, with the consumers reaping the rewards. A cellphone call now costs less than a PTCL call, while a cell connection is free! A far cry from the Rs3500 I had to pay to get one in 2003.
At the moment, the cellular penetration of the consumer market in Pakistan stands at 20 million, with millions more to follow. And where there are cell connections, there are cellphones to be sold and bought. Nokia led the Pakistani market while Motorola and Sony Erricson provided the alternatives. Other brands, including alternatives from China, too tried to make their mark.
Cellphones now cost as low as Rs2000, with their features attracting new consumers. But it were the high-end sets which set the market alight. Cellphones costing more than Rs20,000 each sold easily. And i-Mate and various other PDAs gave the affluent another gizmo to play with.
An issue which remained prominent throughout the year was the theft of cellphones. It was a big problem for the authorities, who sought to deal with it by coming up with a practical idea. A code, when sent wirelessly by the police, jammed the stolen sets, thereby depriving the thief of its usage.
During the year, computers finally saw a threat emerging — the laptop. Wireless connectivity — combined with an increasing number of commercial HotSpots in the country and decreasing prices — helped fuel the growth of the laptop market.
A Centrino-powered laptop today costs Rs50,000, an affordable price for the growing crop of middle managers in the country. Installment schemes facilitated the growth further.
On the corporate front, something happened that had never happened in the Pakistani market before. A Pakistani IT company, Inbox Computers, was bought by a Pakistani corporate giant, the Dawood Group of Companies.
On the international scene, business seemed to settle after nearly four years of unsettled waters, following the tech bubble burst of 2000 and the uncertainty of things after 9/11.
Software brand Oracle, bought controlling stakes in numerous companies, consolidating its place as the largest enterprise software company in the world. One such acquisition was the Siebel, a $5.85 billion in cash and stock deal.
Microprocessor giant, Intel, went for a different kind of headline. It changed its logo. Starting January 2006, it is not “Intel Inside” anymore. This 37-year-old tagline that has been valued at $36 billion by the international consultancy Interbrands, has been replaced by “Leap Ahead”, as the company moves towards the consumer products market.
Microsoft launched its latest Xbox version, a sure bet to challenge Sony and Nintendo in the gaming market. Apple went for its MP3 dominance. IPod can now play your music videos, act as a photo album and even play music.
In Pakistan, a basic IPod can be had for Rs20,000. No wonder, MP3 players worth Rs10,000, from unbranded Chinese companies and other better known names, are more in demand.
Firefox, the firebrand browser released its latest version. The Firefox 1.5, which looks and feels a lot like the original Firefox that made its debut in November 2004 suppresses pop-up ads, thwarts spyware and loads pages faster than Internet Explorer, the browser used by about 85 per cent of the surfers.
2006 promises to hold more excitement for the IT world. Longhorn, the descendent of Windows, looks set to create the most waves in the months to come. Let’s hope it doesn’t require pricey upgrades!
The writer <atifis@yahoo.com> is a freelance contributor
2005 WAS the year when an earthquake devastated the northern areas of Pakistan, when Katrina exposed the shortcomings of an unprepared superpower, and when a simple fault in an undersea cable left Pakistan vulnerable and isolated in the online world.
