Warid and SpiderCloud deploying 4G small cell offering in Pakistan

Details: James Barton; Category: Wireless Networks; 19 February 2015; 8896 views

Pakistani operator Warid Telecom is deploying SpiderCloud Wireless’ small cell offering.

Marking SpiderCloud’s first commercial deployment in Asia, Warid is using the firm’s E-RAN system to offer 4G mobile coverage in public spaces. The indoor solution provides a multimode service covering 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi.

The solution, which can be installed in a matter of days, is “targeted for hundreds of different locations in the major cities of Pakistan”, according to SpiderCloud.

The move indicates a renewed commitment to Pakistan from Warid, which just over a year ago was reportedly attempting to pull out of the market. Having begun operating in 2005, Warid declined to bid in last year’s 3G and 4G auctions, meaning that it is deploying its LTE offering on 2G spectrum.

Warid is reportedly lining up $500 million of investment for the next 5 years, having launched its LTE offering at the end of 2014. The operator intends to upgrade its 2.5G network to 4G, expanding its LTE network to 10 more cities by the end of the year, and a further 20 across the next 20 months.

The operator’s revived focus on Pakistan may be a reflection of its owner, the Abu Dhabi Group, which attempted to sell off the operator last year but has since abandoned this plan. With 12.5 million connections, Warid takes fifth place in the Pakistani market.