Wateen Telecom Limited
TypeUnlisted public company
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded2005 (2005)
Headquarters
Lahore
,
Pakistan
Area served
Nationwide (Pakistan)
Key people
  • Adil Rashid (CEO)
  • Ghulam Mustafa (CFO)
  • Malik Farhan Haider (CTO)
ProductsFixedline telephony
Broadband internet
Fibre-optic communication
IT services
OwnerAbu Dhabi Group
Websitewww.wateen.com

Wateen Telecom (Urdu: وطین ٹیلی کام) is a converged communication services provider based in Lahore, Pakistan, and was a sister concern of Warid Telecom. The company was incorporated in 2005 and began its operations in 2007 with the deployment of the largest fibre optic network in the country.[1]

It was formerly listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange but was delisted after a share buyback in 2013.[2]

History

Wateen Telecom is formed under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi Group; one of the leading business corporations in the Middle East and one of the biggest foreign investors in Pakistan.[3] Initially, in 2007, the company was set up as a "carrier's carrier" providing a fine fibre optic network to mobile companies and offering long-distance and telephony services. In areas where Wateen did not have a fiber network, it offered carriers connectivity through VSAT.

Wateen is the first company in the world to commercially launch WiMAX broadband internet services throughout the country, beginning with 24 major cities in Pakistan in 2007.[4]

Due to the global recession and instability in the economic and political scenario in the country, the FDI in Pakistan slowed, adversely affecting the company. In order to raise capital, Wateen Telecom decided to go public with an IPO, which was oversubscribed at PKR 10.[5] Unfortunately, right after the IPO there came a fall in the share prices and the stock index declined. Realizing the situation, Wateen Telecom underwent a major transformation which also included a change in its management.

In 2013, Qubee, subsidiary of Augere, was merged with Wateen Telcom.[6][7]

Operations

Broadband Internet

Wateen has shut down its WiMax network and now only offers Fiber Broadband (HFC/GPON) in areas of Karachi, Lahore and Multan.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Wateen Telecom announces 110 million shares' issue through IPO". Brecorder. 15 April 2010.
  2. ↑ "Warid Telecom International initiates buy-back and consequent de-listing of shares of Wateen Telecom Limited". The Express Tribune. 30 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "Wateen Telecom starts trading". DAWN.COM. 8 April 2010.
  4. ↑ Amitabh Kumar (2008). Mobile Broadcasting with WiMAX. Focal Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-240-81040-9.
  5. ↑ Niazi, Babar Nizami, Abdullah (7 October 2019). "Is this the end of Abu Dhabi group in Pakistan? And who is to blame?". Profit by Pakistan Today.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "Boost: Wateen, Qubee combine broadband business". The Express Tribune. 5 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Jamal, Nasir (5 December 2013). "Wateen, Qubee set for merger". DAWN.COM.
  8. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (13 July 2021). "Wateen, Telenor join hands to meet bandwidth demand". DAWN.COM.
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