According to foreign media reports, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced plans to award 3G licenses in the near future, but does not specify a specific deadline, but also did not disclose the price or conditions of the license.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority on the local financial newspaper “Business Chronicle” (Business Recorder) said in a statement that it is expected to soon start providing 3G services to all mobile operators, data usage and value-added services will increase.
It is recognizing that the 3G licenses has been delayed several times, although the statement has been designated the spectrum regulatory authorities, all of the basic work has been completed. Earlier in August, has been reported that Telenor in Pakistan began to upgrade its network in preparation for access to 3G licenses.
At present Pakistan is Pakistan Mobilink (a subsidiary of the Egyptian Orascom), Telenor, Ufone, Warid and Zong (China Mobile’s subsidiary. According to Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, the latest data show that as of July the country’s total of 95.55 million mobile subscribers, mobile phone penetration rate of 58.5%.
According to informed sources on the operator disclosed that at present China Mobile Zong is also in order to survive and enter the ranks of major carriers beset by problems for Pakistan 3G problems still lingering was launched domestic standard TD-SCDMA, or universal standard WCDMA.
If China Mobile launched TD-SCDMA, although the energy and its internal standard uniform, but it is limited to 3G roaming between China and Brazil; and in the frequency and the industrial chain, there is Pakistan Telecommunications Authority to allow the question whether this has outside the scope of dealing with technology.
However, some people are optimistic and believe that, regardless of the first TD-SCDMA is still an experimental field of overseas launched WCDMA, is a good training opportunity for China Mobile.
China Mobile subsidiary Zong total to 6.486 million, the market share, accounting for 6.79% and unable toe enter the mainstream. As of the end of July, the other major carriers for commercial households: Mobilink continued to consolidate its leading position, with 29.55 million customers (market share of 30.93%), Telenor of 21.299 million (22.29%), Ufone to 20.057 million (20.99%), Warid to 18.141 million (18.98%).
Total investment of China Mobile in Pakistan has reached 1.66 billion U.S. dollars, and there are plans to invest another 500 million U.S. dollars this year. Earlier rumors said that Zong is trying to Warid and Telenor one or merger. If the merger successful, will serve as new entrants compete for fifth 3G license.
