Latest telecoms statistics
Telecoms statistics recently released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) show cellular teledensity improving to 56.3% in January 2009 while total Fixed Teledensity (Fixed Line Density and WLL Density) has remained unchanged at 4.0% during the review period. After witnessing successive declines in total cellular subscriber base during the past two months, the total cellular subscriber base has managed to eke out a marginal growth of 0.89%MoM to 90.70mn in January 2009. Previously, PTA’s steps to block unregistered SIMs weighed down heavily on the net subscriber base. During January 2009, Mobilink continued to lose market share, reporting a 0.58%MoM decline in its overall subscriber base, whereas Ufone, China Mobile, Telenor and Warid reported MoM net additions of 0.59%, 6.33%, 1.39% and 1.36% to their respective cellular bases. On the WLL front, total subscriber base increased by 0.69%MoM to reach 2.36 million during January 2009. Within the sector, we continue to like PTCL which offers exposure to landline, WLL and the cellular market (Ufone). — Courtesy AKD Research
ZONG goes post-paid
ZONG has announced its entry into the postpaid packages market following a huge increase in its prepaid subscribers’ base across the country. A number of customised postpaid packages are on offer, to suit the vastly varied needs of individuals, large corporate entities and small businesses. The main features of the ZONG Postpaid include identical airtime rates for both on-net and off-net with competitive rates and no hidden charges. The postpaid service is said to be aimed towards a common mobile user who has more talk time and is currently keeping a prepaid subscription eventually paying more.
GPS devices and programmes in Pakistan
Although detailed maps for locations in Pakistan aren’t that readily available, GPS devices are starting to enter the local market. Megallan’s Triton series GPS devices have hit Pakistani stores and the price tags for these devices range between Rs. 14,000-Rs. 22,000.
On a similar note, Google Maps is available for download on GPS enabled phones that run on systems such as Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Java, Palm and Symbian S60.
Two companies, Data Solutions and Tracking World have developed Pakistan’s first in-car GPS system. Detailed maps are available for major Pakistani cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Gujranwala, Hyderabad and Wah Cantt, including all major highways. Labeled street maps are available for Islamabad, Lahore and some parts of Karachi. Also on offer with this system, are 40,000 POIs (points of interest) which include fuel pumps, banks and ATMs, hospitals, restaurants and hotels, shops, etc.
In addition, a couple of cellular service providers are also offering Location Based Services to their subscribers.
Pakistan to help Afghanistan’s telecoms sector
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) have agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in the field of telecommunication while PTA will extend help to ATRA for the furtherance of telecom services in Afghanistan.
During the meeting between the officials of the two telecoms authorities, Chairman PTA Dr. Mohammed Yaseen said that the operators from Pakistan are willing to extend fibre optic links to Afghanistan after which Pakistan will be connected to Central Asian Countries, Central States and Afghanistan could also be linked to the International Sea Cable System through Pakistan. Chairman ATRA Mr. Zakaria Hassan said that Afghanistan wants to benefit from Pakistan’s experience in telecommunication areas such as interconnect costing models and tariff regulations and also showed interest in receiving training from Pakistan.
