Instaphone
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|
| Private | |
| Industry | Telecommunication |
| Genre | Subsidiary |
| Fate | License canceled |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Defunct | January 4, 2008 (License cancelled) |
| Headquarters | Islamabad, Pakistan |
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Key people
|
Iain Williams, CEO |
| Products | InstaXcite, InstaPhone Postpaid |
| Parent | Millicom International Cellular (former), Afreen Group (present) |
| Website | instaphone.com |
Instaphone was brand name of first ever cellular mobile communication services launched by M/s Pakcom Ltd., a telecommunications company in Pakistan and the pioneer of cellular industry in Pakistan. The company was jointly owned by M/s Arfeen and Millicom International (Luxemberg)and was acquired later by the Arfeen Group. In 1989, the Government of Pakistan awarded licences to cellular mobile operators. M/s Pakcom Ltd. and M/s Paktel Ltd. won the bids and were granted licences for 15 years. A third company ( M/s Pakistan mobile Telecommunication ltd) was also among the competitors however could not complete technical/financial proposal in time and had to stay away from competition for some times ( least they brought GSM system, an advanced digital system in 1994 with famous brand name of Mobilink.) The two companies raced to launch their cellular service and "Instaphone" won the race by few weeks, when they commercially launched their operation on 16 October 1990 with 3 Radio Base Stations located at WTC ( Khyaban e Jami, Clifton), PNSC building roof top, and at Pak Capitol exchange ( a PTCL exchange at University road, Karachi). The Cellular mobile exchange was located at penthouse on WTC building tower 1.This building is owned by M/s Arfeen, the partner in M/s Pakcom. Later next month the services were started in Islamabad with exchange and a radio base station at Blue area, a RBS at Daman-e-Koh, and one at State life building in Sadder, Rawalpindi. The CME (cellular mobile exchange of both operators was from Ericsson (Sweden) model AXE-10. Services at Peshawar were started in April 1991 with RBS at roof top of State life building,Sadder, Peshawar cant, and later at Quetta with RBS at PTCL exchange at Mall road and at Brewery road.The Quetta was satellite of Karachi exchange linked via PTCL network, and Peshawar was satellite of Islamabad exchange again linked via PTCL network. The nature of billing was post paid with Rs.5000/- as initial deposit, the Call data was stored on magnetic tapes, sent to UK for printing of bills and bills were then sent to the customers for settling their bills, hence the turn around time was in excess of 45 days. This resulted in non payments from many defaulters who fled away after using and making heavy bills. The call rate was Rs.4/- per minute for local calls charged to both (caller and responder). Such unpaid billing was Rs. 25 Million approx in June 1993.f
The company's license was cancelled by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in January 2008 for unpaid fees.
Before the company's license was canceled, It was ranked at the bottom in terms of market share.
The company's license was cancelled by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in January 2008 for unpaid license renewal fees totalling $291 million.
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Wikipedia