Computerz and Mobilez

We told you earlier about wi-tribe Bazaar, a first of its kind software buy-sell portal for local 

market, where local developers can submit their web/mobile applications and games to grab revenues through sale of apps.

Taking its commitment further towards local software development, wi-tribe has gone a step ahead with the announcement of Pakistan Developers’ Challenge 2012 (PDC 2012); bringing together the greatest young minds of Pakistan onto one, single pioneering platform.

Sure this is a an effort to be appreciated as wi-tribe has offered a platform where Pakistani developers can sell and monetize their software, bringing together the local communities, with local content, on a simple and easy-to-use platform.

Bringing together academia and global technology industry giants – HEC, Microsoft, Intel, P@SHA and Dell – the PDC 2012 invites students, graduates, aspiring developers, professionals and virtually anyone in the development community to be part of the contest.

wi-tribe Bazaar supports both Windows Desktop and various Mobile app platforms, in recognition of the opportunity that a local market of 22 million internet users has to offer.

Talking about PDC2012, Mustafa Peracha, CEO, wi-tribe Pakistan said, “wi-tribe Bazaar is our effort to support and encourage the local IT industry and software developers in particular. For us, Bazaar is a forum for and by Pakistani software developers. At wi-tribe, we are only acting as a catalyst by providing the platform. Feeling strongly about the potential this platform offers towards the growth of the local IT industry, we expect great things to come out of the Pakistan Developers’ Challenge 2012. PDC 2012 seeks to offer a rewarding opportunity to Pakistan’s flourishing developers’ community, ushering in a new era of commercial viability for Pakistan’s technology industry.”

wi-tribe Bazaar is powered by scratch cards, allowing software purchase through wi-tribe scratch cards, available at over 700 locations throughout its cities of operations. Software applications can be priced to match multiple denominations of wi-tribe scratch cards, at the developers’ discretion. wi-tribe Bazaar also offers hundreds of free applications, supporting developers in building and reaching a larger, previously untapped market. wi-tribe Bazaar is not exclusive to wi-tribe customers. Instead, it is open to developers nationwide, be it students, graduates, young professionals or businesses.

Participating contestants are challenged to win from 17 award categories, while also gaining from numerous other career boosting opportunities

Average connection speed for internet in Pakistan for both broadband and narrowband connections stood at 741 kbps in fourth quarter 2011, slightly down from 763 kbps in third quarter 2011.

According to stats revealed by Akamai in its ‘state of the internet’ report for fourth quarter 2011, 1.2 million unique IPs from Pakistan averaged 741 kbps data rates during the quarter. On another front average peak connection speed was recorded at 5,286 kbps for all the broadband users in Pakistan.

Average Connection Speed in Pakistan

Akamai said that stats are derived from the data gathered from all around the globe through Akamai Intelligent Platform.

Akamai report suggested that broadband adaption rate (for connections above 2 Mbps) in Pakistan was 0.8 percent, lowest since third quarter 2010. At the same time, narrowband adaption rate is on a consistent decline showing that dial-up customer base is shifting towards broadband internet.

Broadband (over 2 Mbps) Adaption Rate

Narrowband (dialup with less than 256 kbps) Adaption Rate

Yousaf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, has announced that government of Pakistan has plans to allocate PKR 17 billion (USD 190 million) in next year’s budget for stretching the broadband services in un-served and under-served areas of the country.

It is anticipated that this money will be taken from USF’s pocket, which was specifically created for the development of telecom, broadband and ICT in far flung areas of the country where doing business isn’t viable otherwise.

Mr. Gillani revealed that his government had already spent Rs. 22 billion on IT, without mentioning that this amount was disbursed in five years, and that too by Universal Service Fund (not by his government) that is funded from 1.5 percent yearly revenues of all telecom companies.

It is said that PKR 62 billion is lying in USF’s account (that is bound to increase in July 2012 – as the end of fiscal year nears) which the government has plans to disburse on development projects to get the credit in upcoming elections.

Regardless of the goals Mr. Gillani has in mind, if spent well, this PKR 17 billion grant can change the course of internet reach in Pakistan in one year. Internet Service Providers are eagerly waiting for new bids to work on with USF.