Jazz (mobile network operator)

Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited
Jazz
Native name
 جاز‬
Formerly
 Mobilink
Subsidiary
Industry Telephony and Internet
Predecessors Mobilink
Warid Pakistan
Founded 10 January 2017 (2017-01-10) in Islamabad, Pakistan
Headquarters Islamabad, Pakistan
Area served
 Pakistan
Key people
 Aamir Hafeez Ibrahim (CEO)
Products Mobile telephony
Mobile banking
Parent Global Telecom Holding S.A.E.
Website jazz.com.pk

Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited d/b/a Jazz[1][2] (Urdu: جاز‬‎) is the largest mobile network in Pakistan formed by the merger of Mobilink and Warid.[3][4] It provides a range of services for prepaid and postpaid customers to individual and corporate clients. Its Head Office is located in Islamabad, and the current CEO is Aamir Ibrahim.

History

Jazz was formerly known as Mobilink (PMCL), however in November 2015, it announced a merger with WaridTel Pakistan, both companies re-launched under the 'Jazz' brand name. Both merged companies now collectively serve 56 million subscribers in Pakistan with 37% of the total market share.

Network

Jazz has over 8500 active cell sites in the country, with over 6500 kilometers of Fiber Optic cable laid. Huawei, Nokia-Siemens, Alcatel and ZTE are the primary vendors for networking equipment at Jazz, including Radio Base Stations, Microwave equipment and network switches. Over 20 cities are also covered under Jazz's recently launched LTE service as well. Jazz uses Ericsson for its intelligent networks and Acision for it's SMSC. Jazz has invested over 3.9 billion US Dollars in their network.[5]

In March 2017, Jazz inaugurated their new state-of-the-art Network Operations Center (NOC), it uses IBM and Dell EMC to manage day-to-day network operations and provides the company with 24x7 network surveillance.[6][7][8] The inauguration of this NOC caused minor network outages for users in some areas, however as the facility has become fully operational, all network related issues have been resolved.

Radio Frequency Summary

Frequency Protocol Band Class Channel Width
900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G 12.4 MHz
1800 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G 9.8 MHz
2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSPA+ 1 3G 10 MHz
1800 MHz LTE 3 4G 15 MHz

Mobilink's participation in the 2014 NGMS Auction held by PTA allowed them to bid for the 3G license, which included a 10 MHz block in the 2100 MHz band. In July 2014, they announced that they would have the country's largest network with over 9000 3G-ready cell sites. Mobilink did not bid for any LTE spectrum in the 2014 NGMS auction.

Post-merger with WaridTel, Jazz was able to use Warid's technology neutral license allowing them to become an LTE network using a 5 MHz block in the 1800 MHz band.

Jazz is currently in the process of decommissioning Warid cell sites and bringing the Warid customers on to the new network. This process is slow and is happening in stages, Warid customers are being told to replace their SIM cards with new ones issued from Jazz offices or franchises across the country.

Spectrum refarming is also planned to allow more spectrum to be allocated to LTE, thus allowing Jazz to stay in competition with Zong.

In May 2017, Jazz won the 2017 NGMS auction held by PTA.[9][10] This includes a 10 MHz block in the 1800 MHz (FDD-LTE Band 3) frequency to be used for Jazz LTE, whereas the current 5 MHz block is Warid's spectrum that is unlikely to have its license renewed in the future.

Jazz was officially awarded its 4G spectrum on 30th June 2017 by PTA.[11][12][13]

The newly awarded spectrum and 5 MHz of Jazz's existing spectrum in the 1800 MHz band will be made active nationwide by the end of 2017, Jazz is currently in the process of upgrading their LTE network in many cities across the country, whilst also removing old Warid equipment. The network has already been upgraded in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Chiniot, Quetta and Mianwali.

In a recent development Jazz launched 3G on its 900 MHz frequency with the help of Huawei. Reportedly Huawei is helping Jazz to deploy its CloudAIR technology which will enable jazz to offer GSM, UMTS and LTE services on all available bands.

VoLTE testing

Jazz has tested VoLTE over its network with its partners Huawei and Nokia, announced in a press statement. It is the first operator in Pakistan to prepare for the launch of VoLTE in the country.[14]

Subsidiaries

Jazz X - Feature Phones and Smart Phones

Jazz partnered with Haier Mobile to launch co-branded devices ready for use on their network. These include feature phones and affordable smart phones. They are available for purchase at Mobilink Sales and Service Centers.

Mobicash / JazzCash

Jazz had partnered with Mobilink Microfinance Banking to make an entry into the branchless banking market, initially launched under the MobiCash brand name, it was later changed to JazzCash. It is a direct competitor to Telenor's Easypaisa. It allows users to pay bills, send and receive money and purchase top-ups for prepaid mobile numbers.

It also has an application available on the Google Play Store that allows users easier access to the JazzCash portal, rather than using the USSD menu to conduct transactions.

Jazz Business - Enterprise Solutions

Jazz Business is a department of Jazz whose primary aim is to provide Enterprise Solutions for Businesses in Pakistan.

Jazz Business Mobile

Jazz Business Mobile consists of full control over Postpaid Plans, namely Postpaid Pro and Postpaid Control, Mobile Data, Device Plans and International Roaming. Moreover, Jazz also offers 'Business Line' which allows for one mobile phone number to have multiple extensions such as those possible with a fixed line service, however without the need of equipment at the customer premises.

Jazz Enterprise Solutions

Jazz offers numerous Enterprise Solutions ranging from simple Voice Solutions to Managed Services and various Connectivity Solutions.

Managed Services

Location and secure storage for business critical IT and networking equipment.

They also provide reliable cloud based web hosting services.

Connectivity Solutions

Jazz provides many suitable connectivity solutions in collaboration with LinkDotNet, such as Domestic MPLS, DIA, Leased Circuits, Global MPLS and 3G Access Service.

Mobile Device Management (MDM)

Jazz's MDM allows for Freedom, Customization and Remote Management. This is achieved using Samsung's KNOX security platform.

References

  1. ↑ "PAKISTAN MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED". opencorporates.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Pakistan Mobile Communications Ltd.: Private Company Information". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  3. ↑ Junaidi, Ikram (2017). "Mobilink, Warid become Jazz after merger". Dawn.com.
  4. ↑ Ali, Samana (January 9, 2017). "Don't call me Mobilink, I am Jazz now".
  5. ↑ "Our Business Network Advantage - Jazz". Jazz. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  6. ↑ "Jazz inaugurates its state-of-the-art Network Operations Center". 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  7. ↑ Webmaster (2017-03-11). "Jazz inaugurates network operations centre". Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  8. ↑ "Jazz's state-of-the-art NOC becomes operational". Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  9. ↑ "PTA Notifies Jazz as the Winner of 4G Spectrum Auction". 2017-05-19. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  10. ↑ "Jazz became the winner of 4G spectrum: Dunya Ko Bataa Do | NetMag Pakistan". NetMag Pakistan. 2017-05-19. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  11. ↑ "Jazz Awarded 4G Spectrum for USD 295 Million - PKKH.tv". PKKH.tv. 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  12. ↑ "Jazz wins 4G spectrum licence for $295m - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  13. ↑ "Jazz Officially Awarded 4G Spectrum After it Paid 100% License Fee". 2017-06-30. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  14. ↑ "Jazz to Soon Enable VoLTE Across its Network". 2017-05-30. Retrieved 2017-05-30.

Jazz.com.pk


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