Since 2006, WiMAX in Pakistan has been the topic of news, articles and blogs. The views range from optimistic and positive to those who think that WiMAX will not survive against competing technologies. Regardless, the number of companies offering WiMAX based broadband has increased. At the same time, foreign press has also started noticing this trend. Here’s a recent article in Wi-FiPlanet magazine about WiMAX and its possibel role in online and distance education in Pakistan. I provided some information for this article as well. Here’s the link to the article.

At least three companies already have WiMAX networks up and running. In major cities, such as Islamabad, the capital, there is even some competition. Prices as a result have come down recently. KZO is only paying about $21 a month for 1 Mbps service at the two schools in its pilot, Cruver says.

Wateen, part of the Abu Dhabi Group based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is offering its Wateen Home service in 22 Pakistani cities, including Islamabad, Karachi and Rawalpindi. It was first to market, launching service in 2006.

Since then, the country’s largest cellular operator, Mobilink, a subsidiary of another Middle East company, Egypt’s Orascom, has launched its Mobilink Infinity service in Karachi. It has plans to roll the service out to other cities, including  Lahore and Islamabad.

Wi-tribe, a wireless broadband-only company, again with roots in the Middle East, launched this year in Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. All three use mobile-capable 802.16e WiMAX technology in the 3.5 GHz band.

According to WiMAX Forum, at least two other operators, Supernet (owned by Telecard) and Burraq Telecom, also plan to launch WiMAX service in Pakistan.

WiMAX in Pakistan appears well on its way to becoming a key component of the country’s telecom infrastructure, one that leap-frogs it over better developed countries. But WiMAX still faces challenges, says Babar Bhatti, the U.S.-based chief editor of TelecomPK, a blog covering the industry in Pakistan.