Broadband Technology Management and Evaluation

This paper focuses on technology management's strategic integration practice for the broadband service sector. It evaluates the broadband market and in particular the wireless broadband (WBB) market of Pakistan. The paper discusses why Pakistan needs WBB more than fixed broadband (DSL, Cable). It identifies the TM (technology management) concerns (3G license cost, technology selection, WBB penetration rate, and value creation) of the service providers in establishing a strong WBB market. We present new techniques and directions for addressing these concerns. We present strategies and a mathematical formula that can be used to reduce the cost of 3G license. We also provide both business and technical justifications why both WiMAX and 3G-HSPA are necessary for wireless broadband. We will also present our forecast which shows that beyond 2011 there will be more wireless broadband users than fixed ones; far more than estimated by government forecasts. The forecast also reveals that HSPA will take major share of the WBB market but at the same time importance of WiMAX cannot be ignored. Finally, an added value due to broadband for all the stakeholders is that it lays the foundation of a knowledge based economy.