Huawei to launch smartphones in Pakistan by year end

Huawei set to launch smartphone handsets, roll out 3G services in Pakistan.

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