Huawei is all set to launch its smartphone handsets in Pakistani market by the end of 2011, well before the roll out of 3G services in the country, Nadeem Aslam Malik, Director Enterprises Business at Huawei Pakistan said.
In an exclusive interview to ProPakistani, Malik said that Huawei branded smartphones will be affordable for Pakistani customers, ranging from Rs12,000 to Rs25,000 with features and applications for cellular users on GSM or 3G networks.
Huawei brands have been gaining successful repute in the local and regional markets dealing in low-cost and high-end sets, he said. The company’s low-cost smartphone handsets have received excellent business in collaboration with its cellular partners including Ufone and Zong.
Presently, the company is working on channels and marketing of the handsets in the local market to compete different brands with competition on pricing and exciting offers, Malik added.
Huawei specializes in low cost smartphones powered by Google’s Android operating system and those with Windows platform.
Huawei has been carrying out its operations for two mainstreams cellular operators in the case of infrastructure building and handsets availability for large section of customers.
Malik said 3G is likely to hit Pakistan next year after conclusion of regulatory affairs, particularly regarding the roll out of 3G policy and auction of the licenses to the cellular operators.
Network vendors such as Huawei will roll out physical infrastructure for 3G for cellular operators in a minimum of three months once they are given the green signal from the partners and the regulator, he said. The investment on 3G is definitely significant but its lucrative when it comes to level and capacity of service offerings by operators.
“We have already completed our homework to roll out the physical network of 3G in Pakistan and are ready to kick off operations with the plans of our partner cellular operators,” Director Huawei said.
Mobilink and Ufone, the two major operators, have already enabled their networks with 3G technology in past two years with Huawei in position to deploy 3G technology in several major cities in the first phase, he revealed.
“I think cellular operators are reluctant to go for 3G technology but they are interested in 4G, which is an advanced technology. But, Pakistan, is not the market for 4G or LTE because this service is beyond the affordability of the customers compared with 3G,” he added.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a network swap from 3G to 4G is easy, rapid, affordable and does not involve many technical issues and complications, therefore, there will be no need for another heavy investment on 4G infrastructure when operators finds it suitable to launch.
A version of this post originally appeared on ProPakistani
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Hay Pakistan is not poor country, Can't you see Millions of Costly cars revolving daily around you?? I bet you, After 3G/4G technology, Millions of peoples will divert to latest technology with android/smart phones for 3G.Pakistan is not small market
Mr. Nadeem Aslam Malik the display/show of Huawei at the ITCN was impressive. Huawei may be new to consumers but its history is long in the network and infrastructure building of telecoms., worldwide including Pakistan. Huawei's first Android handset Ideos launched with local operators Zong, and Ufone was launched last year and still on at the same price. Ideos early version launched in late 2010 cannot be upgraded to Android 2.2 and 2.3. No battery is available at any outlet. Looking at the first official launch of Huawei of Android phone the numbers are not attractive. With todays launch of Kindle Fire with combination of Linux and Android, at under $200. Suggest the obsolete Ideos with a very slow processor of 500hz. cannot support the higher versions of Android. Survey revealed there could be a sizeable market if you strengthen the Ideos brand which is obsolete with price of Rs.5000-00 retail which will obtain orders of 1000 units per month from the market not operator, but institutional market. Second product is Android Pad launched at the Asia Telecom Singapore 2011 when it was launched. should be introduced at a shocking price. But first get rid of your inventory and then proceed.
here comes the mobile snatcher,man u better carry gun with u if u r to have application baseed phone coz after 3G majority of people will buy thoses expensive phones...koi nai Allah kahir ker c.......one thing for sure u'll c less of SMS's and thoses STUPID jokes as people will be spending more time with their cool apps n video games n probably learn a thing or two along the way because they experience the same trend in us after they introduced 3G network.........oh well,,,, ENJOY IT NATION whenever it launcehs!!!!!!! 1
I recently used 3g in Saudia.... its soo fast
more cheap quality products will flood our market due to this FTA which is only benefiting one partner.