Wateen

{{Short description|Telecommunication company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Wateen Telecom Limited | logo = Wateen.png | type = [[Unlisted public company]] | foundation = {{start date and age|2005}} | location_city = [[Lahore]] | location_country = Pakistan | location = | key_people = {{plainlist| * Adil Rashid ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]]) * Ghulam Mustafa ([[Chief financial officer|CFO]]) * Malik Farhan Haider ([[Chief technology officer|CTO]]) }} | area_served = Nationwide (Pakistan) | industry = [[Telecommunications]] | products = [[Landline|Fixedline telephony]]<br>[[Internet access|Broadband internet]]<br>[[Fiber-optic communication|Fibre-optic communication]]<br> [[Information technology|IT services]] | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | owner = Abu Dhabi Group | homepage = {{URL|http://www.wateen.com/}} | dissolved = }}

'''Wateen Telecom''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/3752100|title=Wateen Telecom announces 110 million shares' issue through IPO|date=15 April 2010|website=Brecorder}}</ref>

It was formerly listed on the [[Karachi Stock Exchange]] but was delisted after a share buyback in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/528541/warid-telecom-international-initiates-buy-back-and-consequent-de-listing-of-shares-of-wateen-telecom-limited|title=Warid Telecom International initiates buy-back and consequent de-listing of shares of Wateen Telecom Limited|date=30 March 2013|website=The Express Tribune}}</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/959547/wateen-telecom-starts-trading|title=Wateen Telecom starts trading|date=8 April 2010|website=DAWN.COM}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Mobile Broadcasting with WiMAX|url=https://archive.org/details/mobilebroadcasti00kuma|url-access=limited|author=Amitabh Kumar|publisher=[[Focal Press]]|year=2008|isbn=978-0-240-81040-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/mobilebroadcasti00kuma/page/n188 166]}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/10/07/is-this-the-end-of-abu-dhabi-group-in-pakistan-and-who-is-to-blame/|title=Is this the end of Abu Dhabi group in Pakistan? And who is to blame?|first=Babar Nizami, Abdullah|last=Niazi|date=7 October 2019|website=Profit by Pakistan Today}}</ref> 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.{{fact|date=December 2023}}

In 2013, Qubee, subsidiary of Augere, was merged with Wateen Telcom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/641723/boost-wateen-qubee-combine-broadband-business|title=Boost: Wateen, Qubee combine broadband business|date=5 December 2013|website=The Express Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1060538|title=Wateen, Qubee set for merger|first=Nasir|last=Jamal|date=5 December 2013|website=DAWN.COM}}</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1634724|title=Wateen, Telenor join hands to meet bandwidth demand|first=The Newspaper's Staff|last=Reporter|date=13 July 2021|website=DAWN.COM}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist|1}}

[[Category:Pakistani subsidiaries of foreign companies]] [[Category:Internet service providers of Pakistan]] [[Category:Cable television companies of Pakistan]] [[Category:Pakistan–United Arab Emirates relations]]