Industry expects PML-N to address issue of service suspension as well. DESIGN: CREATIVE COMMONS
“In their previous two tenures, the PML-N had always had business-friendly policies, which positively affected the corporate sector,” said Atifa Asghar, Director Corporate Communications and Responsibility of Telenor Pakistan. “We hope that their previous positive approach will continue in the future as well and business in general and telecom sector in particular will benefit hugely from their policies.”
The telecom sector contributed Rs133 billion or $1.3 billion to the national exchequer in fiscal year 2011-12, making it one of the highest tax-paying sectors. However, the multi-million-dollar sector has suffered financially from recent blackouts of mobile services and missed opportunities such as 3G auction, which has been delayed more than once.
“The two major issues encompassing the telecom sector that we would like the new government to address are introduction of 3G and network suspension,” Asghar said. “3G is the next natural step of evolution in the telecommunications industry.”
Pakistan is already one of the top performing telecoms markets in terms of reach, teledensity, call rates and product and service offerings, Asghar said. “With the advent of 3G, our country’s telecom performance will be further enhanced and strengthened and it will greatly enrich end-user experience,” she said.
Under the previous government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority – the telecom regulator responsible for 3G licensing – failed thrice to hold the auction.
However, the PML-N claimed in its manifesto that it will move directly to 4G technology to ensure fast-track introduction of modern information and communication technology (ICT). It also said it will promote and facilitate the software industry to develop applications accessible through 4G and LTE networks.
The frequent mobile service blackout by the government is another major concern besetting the industry that loses millions every time cellphone services are suspended.
Network suspension is a growing challenge in the industry, according to Asghar. “Frequent suspensions during the past nine months have impacted the government and industry revenues, businesses and individual subscribers,” she said. “On the other hand, due to massive dependence on mobile phones, subscribers face huge inconveniences in carrying out daily personal and professional tasks.”
The industry is aware of the security situation in the country but the government should consult all the stakeholders and come up with a strategy that in the long term tackles the security concerns without adversely impacting the economy, the industry and the consumers, Asghar said.
For about five years, the Ministry of IT and Telecom has been without a minister while PTA has been going through a serious internal squabble among senior management recently. The new government will have to tackle this as well.
“The new government should appoint a minister who understands the issues facing the IT industry,” said Sikandar Naqi, Adviser to Zong CEO.
“The new government should have an effective regulator, which can successfully hold the much-delayed 3G auction.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2013.
Like Business on Facebook to stay informed and join in the conversation.
COMMENTS (12)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1725228370-0/Untitled-design-(2)1725228370-0-165x106.webp "article")
please do it fast whatever 3g or directly 4g...we are already far behind...
Sarmad Ali
Dear Readers, I appreciate the sentiment of the people who say that we should go directly to 4G. However, we must understand the technicalities and the ground realities. The fact of the matter is that yes we have 4G LTE (which can be called pre-4G to be more precise) technologies deployed in many countries in the world. However, another ground reality is that the dongles and phones that support LTE are very expensive. In Pakistan we already have between 10 to 15 Million phones that are 3G enabled. So as a technical person and having expertise in both 3G and LTE technologies recognized by many countries except Pakistan, I would suggest that we go for the spectrum auction in a manner that we have the deployment of UMTS/HSPA+ as well as technologies at the same time. It may sound a little strange to many but I believe that we should give out the spectrum for LTE at a lower cost. I can continue on this topic and can provide advice to anyone interested. My e-mail address is: syedismailshah@gmail.com.
Dear Readers, I appreciate the sentiment of the people who say that we should go directly to 4G. However, we must understand the technicalities and the ground realities. The fact of the matter is that yes we have 4G LTE (which is pre-4G to be more precise) deployed in many countries of the world. However, another reality is that the dongles and phones that support LTE are very expensive. In Pakistan we already have between 10 to 15 Million phones that are 3G enabled. So as a technical person and having expertise in both 3G and LTE technologies (recognized by many countries except Pakistan), I would suggest that we go for the spectrum auction in a manner that we have the deployment of UMTS/HSPA+ as well as LTE at the same time. It may sound a little strange to many but I believe that we should provide insentives to deploy LTE like giving out the spectrum for LTE at a lower cost. I can continue on this topic and can provide advice to any one who is interested in more details. My e-mail address is: syedismailshah@gmail.com.
Syed Ismail Shah, PhD
Now that the 4G technology is proven and being deployed efficiently everywhere in the world, it will make perfect sense to skip 3G and go directly to 4G. GSM technology provides a path directly from 2G to 4G. Since we are all eventually going to be using 4G in the future the savings will come from eliminating the incremental step of going from 2G to 3G to 4G. The government however may look at this as a money making opportunity and auction another spectrum band for 4G deployment. But that would just drive up the costs of handsets and base stations as they will require equipment to handle various bands. 4G also provides greater spectral efficiency, i.e., it can support more people and higher data speeds on a given amount of spectrum.
I don't think going directly to 4G would be a good choice. There will be less return of investment on 4G compared to 3G keeping in mind high cost of 4G. We in europe are still very much depended on 3G and people are not willing to pay high price for 4G service when all they want is still available through 3G. Secondly, i don't think operators are as willing to go 4G directly as PMLN govt is.
Transparency is key here, spectrum auctions and license grants are often unchecked and done under covers....
@Nadir: The mobile service was not suspended in Boston after the bombing. It is an internet rumor that gained strength when the networks started blocking due to heavy call volume. All major US operators (AT&T, Verizon, T-mobile & Sprint) have denied that they were asked to shut down services in Boston. There is however a possibility that local jammers were used by law enforcement agencies in the immediate vicinity of the blast site to disable any further possible explosives set off by mobile phones. This possibility however cannot be verified because of its sensitive nature.
Go for 4G.....3G is an old technology.
@Nadir: in pakistan the police is so inefficient that only thing a govt. can do i to turn off mobile networks.
Wonder how many US operators complained to the US government after the suspension of mobile services in Boston.