Great news for Pakistani gamers wanting to experience a whole new list of titles on a multiplayer platform because PTCL has introduced new online game servers for multiple titles.

On PTCL’s gaming lounge homepage, the company has mentioned that PGL has relaunched CS:GO, suggesting that other dedicated servers for games are also going to be introduced in the near future. If you take a look at the games list below, you will see that several more have been added in order to improve your online experience.

The list has been updated as follows:

Counter Strike titles

Counter Strike 1.6
Counter Strike Source
Counter Strike Global Offensive

Call of Duty titles

Call of Duty 1
Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

Other games

Team Fortress 2
Battlefield 3
MOHAA (Medal of Honor: Allied Assault)
GTA SA:MP
Minecraft
Netplay Arcade Games Kaillera
Battlenet and Westwood
Just Cause 2

Getting Registered with PTCL Gaming Lounge

In order to start playing, you will first have to register yourself by visiting this link. You will have to install the game client software on PC to get access to Gaming Lounge servers.

Requirements for using this service include users having a working telephone line as well as a subscription to any high-speed broadband packages. The Gaming Lounge is open to all users, not just PTCL’s. However, PTCL users can avail special discounts for the service.

PTCL has really done its homework by laying down a long list of rules and conditions that you will have to follow to the letter if you want to remain registered to the service. Currently, the service is open to everyone but after March 31, 2016, PTCL will be including charges. We’ll be updating you with further details on PTCL Gaming Lounge when they become available.

As for now, check out these games that PTCL has introduced and hopefully, more titles will be added in the near future.

PTCL Announcing Bandwidth (DSL) Data Rate Up to 50 Mbps Using VDSL2 Bonding Technology

PTCL has become the 1st operator in the world to use VDSL2 Bonding technology to provide to its bandwidth hungry DSL customers with Bandwidth up to 50 Mbps on its existing Copper network.

VDSL2 Bonding takes two copper based lines per subscriber and aggregates them to almost double the bandwidth speed available to the existing customers and also expands high speed broadband access to areas that are underserved today. Using VDSL2 Bonding technology, service providers can extend the life of their existing copper infrastructure supporting the delivery of bandwidth intensive services such as Triple play service, data and IPTV.

Now PTCL Customers will have an option to avail DSL Bandwidth up to 50Mbps and will be able to download any amount of data in moments.

Benefits:
* PTCL Broadband service is available in over 1000 cities and towns across the country.
* High speed broadband data rate is now more affordable than ever before
* Seamless experience when streaming and downloading movies, tv shows and music files
* Access to rich HD multimedia resources over the internet
* Access to free movies, music, classical Pakistani plays, famous cricket matches, educational and religious contents exclusively for PTCL broadband customers on ‘Buzz’ broadband web infotainment portal.

PTCL is working on a project, after which, it will be able offer broadband internet of 50 Mpbs, said a statement issued by the company.

An industry first, Pakistan’s PTCL will be using VDSL2 Bonding technology to provide existing digital subscriber line (DSL) customers with speeds up to 50 Mbps.

The project leverages Alcatel-Lucent’s VDSL2 Bonding expertise and should be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2011.

VDSL2 Bonding takes two copper-based VDSL2 lines per subscriber and aggregates them – almost doubling the bandwidths available to existing customers, or expanding high-speed broadband access to areas that are underserved today. Using VDSL2 Bonding, service providers can extend the life of their existing copper infrastructure – supporting the delivery of bandwidth-intensive services such as triple-play voice, data and IPTV.

According to a recent study from market research firm IHS iSuppli, simultaneous access to applications such as peer-to-peer file sharing, online gaming, streaming audio, VoIP and IPTV will soon require bandwidths between 50 and 100Mbps. This fits exactly with VDSL2’s capabilities, especially when combined with innovations such as Bonding and Vectoring.

Commenting on this achievement President and CEO PTCL Walid Irshaid has stated

“PTCL is the first service provider worldwide to deploy a commercial VDSL2 Bonding solution that aims at doubling the bandwidths provided to its existing customers. We are thus setting the trend in international telecoms, and are taking the broadband experience in Pakistan to the next level.

Alcatel-Lucent’s VDSL2 Bonding technology and comprehensive services and network integration expertise is helping us to keep pace with the increasing bandwidth requirements of our customers, while capitalizing on the existing copper infrastructure. This will enable us to quickly deliver high-quality, high-speed and high-availability business and residential services – even in areas where it was not possible before.”

Alcatel-Lucent is providing PTCL with its Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) IP access platform – which is the first platform to commercially support VDSL2 Bonding. Alcatel-Lucent will also supply Bonding-ready customer premises equipment (CPE). Alcatel-Lucent serves as the project’s master network integrator, and is providing a range of professional services – including project management, installation and commissioning, integration and technical support.

“We understand that service providers need the right tools to bridge the gap until fiber deployments have become ubiquitous. VDSL2 Bonding is an ideal approach: service providers like PTCL can almost double the speeds supported by their DSL infrastructure or expand their network’s reach. This makes it a fast and cost-effective approach to bridging the digital divide,” said Aadil Rauf CEO Alcatel-Lucent Pakistan Ltd.

“This commercial VDSL2 Bonding project with PTCL marks the beginning of VDSL2 Bonding deployments outside of the US – where the technology is typically used to expand the reach of the copper network.”

Alcatel-Lucent is the driving force behind the world’s most advanced VDSL2 roll-outs, with customers such as Belgacom, STC, Swisscom and Telekom Austria. Our VDSL2 solution has also been deployed by competitive operators, including M-net (Germany) and South Yorkshire Digital Region (UK).

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has given PTCL a time duration of 6 months to improve quality of service to avoid strict legal action of the authority as per the law.

This penalty would be resultant of PTA’s show cause notice to PTCL on February 4th, 2010.

Background:

PTA’s February 4th, 2010th show cause notice was issued to PTCL based on the results of a nationwide quality of service survey. Results were as following:

PTA termed these results below the benchmark defined by the authority and issued a show cause notice to PTCL.

In response to which, PTCL responded multiple times to entertain PTA’s queries, but apparently authority wasn’t convinced and it passed an order against PTCL to enhance its services or to face the action.

Confusion in Determination:

In a PTA order, published on PTA’s website, two members of the authority ordered 6 months as notice period for PTCL to enhance its services, while the PTA chief contracted both the members and said that 29 days are enough for the PTCL to improve service quality.

Members PTA Ordered:

The Authority has considered the submissions of the licensee and took a lenient view for this time and decided to dispose of the show cause notice dated 4th February, 2010 in the following terms:

– Since the licensee has failed to satisfy the Authority on the aforementioned contraventions made by it regarding mandatory level and standards of Quality of Service, however, keeping in view the difficulties being faced by it and the progress made so far on this account after the issuance of show cause notice, the licensee is, therefore, directed to remedy the aforementioned contraventions by bringing and maintaining the required standards of quality of service within six (06) months of the issuance of this order.

In case of failure strict legal action will be initiated against the licensee under the provisions of the Act, the rules/regulations and the license conditions.

While on other hands Chairman PTA said:

Since, the Authority is unanimously not satisfied with the reply of the licensee and has reached to the conclusion that the licensee has failed to provide the QoS to its customers as per the standards laid down in license and the regulations on the subject, therefore, I disagree with the enforcement order passed by both the members for granting six month time for remedying the contraventions.

I am of the view that the enforcement order should be passed according to the rules and regulations.

According to rule 9(4) of Pakistan Telecommunication Rules, 2000 if the Authority is not satisfied, it can grant time to the licensee for remedying the contravention which shall be less than thirty days from the date of service of the enforcement order.

In the instant case the time period should be less than thirty days. Secondly, grant of six months period to the licensee will create discrimination in the circumstances that the Authority has already passed orders against five mobile operators on the issue of poor QoS and required them to remedy the contravention within twenty nine days.

You can download PTA’s Determination by clicking this link (PDF File – 208 KB)

via ProPakistani.PK

For those with limited needs and budget, PTCL is now offering “National Package”, a broadband DSL with 256 Kbps speed for Rs. 299 per month. With National package, you will be allowed to download 1 GB of data in one month.

Initial impression suggests that 1 GB cap with “National Package” is not going to impress customers, however, they may get fine with 256 Kbps speed.

Additional GBs are not allowed as well, which means you may face a blackout if you consume your data limit before time.

Note: Existing customer can also avail this package but they will have to pay one time charges of Rs.1500 as downgrade charges.

We had heard of upgrade charges so far, but being in Pakistan, expect any type of charges such as these downgrade charges with “National Package”. We fear someday companies might introduce “customer charges”

Below are the all PTCL Broadband packages now available for customer

• 256Kbps          @Rs 299*
• 1Mb                 @Rs 1199
• 2Mb                 @Rs 1499
• 4Mb                 @Rs 1999
• 6Mb                 @Rs 4999
• 8Mb                 @Rs 6999
• 10Mb               @Rs 9999

*Limited download with 1 Gb