Operators Further Increasing Investment To Expand 3G & 4G Coverage

The operators, providing cellular services in the country, are further increasing their investment in mobile broadband and would build thousands of base stations in next few years to enhance network coverage.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Oct, 2018 ) :The operators, providing cellular services in the country, are further increasing their investment in mobile broadband and would build thousands of base stations in next few years to enhance network coverage.

China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak-Zong), having 9.034 million 3g subscribers and 8.131 million 4g users till August 2018, plans to further invest in 4G in Pakistan and would build 5,000 base stations in three years.

A senior official of the Company has said, "We have more than 8 million 4G users, edging out all other operators in this area and taking 75 per cent of market." The company entered in Pakistani market a several years ago, has now over 31 million consumers with a market share of about 21 per cent and ranks third in industry.

"Our company began with acquisition of Paktel in 2007. Occupying only two per cent of market back then, it has seen growth over past years to increase its market share by a factor of 10," the official said.

The company was a forerunner to introduce 4G in Pakistan when the government auctioned the 4G spectrum in 2014.

The advanced 4G technology has also helped promote development of relevant industries.

"We have collaborated with popular ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Careem to facilitate transportation for people," the official shared, citing traffic benefits as an example.

"I am confident CMPak still has great potential to grow under support of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key part of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, as well as company's 20-year-old experience in technology development, operation management and marketing," the official maintained.

Since its establishment in Pakistan, the company has invested a total of $ 2.7 billion.

Similarly, another operator Ufone has also enhanced its 3G services and successfully upgraded 3G services in Lahore and surroundings including Kasur, Sheikhupura, Raiwind and all highways in area.

Company's senior official said alongside refarming spectrum, the company has also invested on network expansion to expand its 3G coverage as well as ensuring better speeds and quality.

Without sharing any numbers, since Ufone is a private company, the official said they would keep investing into network to make it a better offering.

Ufone added 0.47 million 3G users on its network as the total number reached 7.472 million by end of August 2018 as compared to 7.06 million by end of July 2018. The number of 3G users is increasing with each passing month.

"Our focus is on real customers who enjoy our services and remain with us for a longer duration," said the official.

Moreover, the other operators - Telenor and Jazz are also increasing their investment to expand their network coverage.

Telenor also saw a similar change in 3G/4G subscribers, with the number of 3G users on the network reached 10.210 million by August 2018. The number of 4G users increased from 3.315 million by end July to 3.59 million by end of August 2018.

Jazz's total count for 3G and 4G users stood at 20.1 million including 15.045 million 3G users and 5.077 million 4G subscribersby August 2018. Jazz 4G users jumped from 4.6 million from July2018 to 5.077 million by August same year.