It was recently when one of my friend happen to introduced me with internet. Thanks to his fiancé for which he was consistently looking for ways and mediums to communicate at a cheaper cost with his loved ones seven seas away. I was spellbound how quick people were communicating exchanging views and having the causal laughs. Yes it was to chat that I got fascinated by this great technology and never considered about its immense influence it would have in future. I still remember when I bought my first internet connection as a result of a special promotion when no connection charges were to be paid. The journey started with dialup internet connection when that irritating connecting voice rewarded with slow web browsing, regular disconnections and off course your phone line was busy during that time.Life goes on and today we have so many ways in which one can connect to the mammoth network of computers. The one common feature in every new way was none other than the speed. As dialup got older came the “cable – connection” meant only to download with heavy speed. Your phone line was no busier this time forward. Advantage was superior to dialup but some disadvantages lead to its failure. As the cable guy with his pitch to download with heavy speed considered inappropriate to mention huge species of viruses being downloaded into your machine, sit and malfunction. Also the switches got turned off on the back of regular load shedding. No proper availability of customer support as this was a local version of sharing internet connection. The cost to install and maintain was expensive.
Rescuing the web surfers with their previous anguish, DSL – Broad band was introduced. Lightening speed quick and easy installation, full customer support enabled and cost effective as you would only have to pay as per your requirement and package your subscribe. The price started on the higher note and was out of reach for a common “student” which was the biggest user of previous dialup and cable connections. Along side the new hardware the DSL modem had to be purchased by the user making the package more unattractive. The break through came from the PTCL`s move to provide hardware free of cost with the purchase of annual subscription. This opened up the market with competition and made DSL affordable.
Joined the bandwagon came the wireless technologies, starting with the mobile telecom which initially started their offerings with “GPRS” (General packet radio service). The infrastructure these telecoms were putting up together provided a platform to expand their offerings which translated into “EDGE” (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technology simply put you were connected with the internet using your cell phones four times faster this time round. The cost started with Rs.15 per MB upload & download is now available at an average of Rs.500 monthly and unlimited data plan. The catch is the definition of unlimited which varies from carrier to carrier. Still this mode is developing and at the moment mainly directed towards business executives who require connectivity on the go.
Moving forward some one got the idea of setting up a WiMAX network at a country-wide scale. WiMAX is a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to wired broadband like cable and DSL. The technology lagged the desired response initially as the signal strength and quality of service wasn’t up to the mark.
The internet which started with 100/hour back in 1995 is now offered at monthly fixed rental. This is not only a great achievement for a country like Pakistan but also transforms a great opportunity for ordinary individuals to use the technology for their respective needs. The technological evolution is a never ending game and no one knows where this would lead us to. Despite every technology along with its advantages & disadvantages the user now have a choice and responsibility alongside. Also keeping the tradition a live innovative technologies would end up finding their way to the land of pure because it’s just the start and best is yet to come!
Published in [The Post] Wire Free Technology in Hands [26 August, 2009]
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