Cellular teledensity hits 65% mark in Pakistan

by Yasir Ameen

The cellular tele-density has increased to 65.2 percent in the country with addition of subscriptions recorded by 2.23 million in the first four months of the current financial year, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reported.

As per latest available statistics, four out of five cellular operators have added average 0.557 million subscribers on their networks with increment of 0.4 percent into tele-density in Jul-Oct, despite of stiff competition and price war among them.

The overall subscribers’ base reached 111 million by October 2011 as per PTA figures.

Analysts said the number of subscribers has increased in saturated and unsaturated market in capital and small cities alike. The cellular phone users’ growth was recorded in rural and urban areas particularly under-served areas with the increasing penetration of services, customer care facilitation and availability of SIM, scratch cards and easy-load.

The cellular operators offers of reduced rates on calls and SMS have been continued which has been increasing the utility of the services by the customers. Also, the consumption of value added services witnessed slight growth on few networks.

However the majority of the operators are struggling to sustain their revenues and profitability through containment of operational losses and marketing expenses.

Zong

Zong’s success has continued as it has been leading the market with addition of 2.24 subscribers, which is more than the net growth of the overall subscribers’ base in the Jul-Oct.

Zong’s subscribers’ base stood at 13.16 million

Telenor

Telenor has maintained its growth of subscription, adding 0.939 million SIMs connection to reach 27.6 million base by October.

Mobilink

Mobilink hold its leading position and stood at 33.5 million by October 2011. It added 0.294 million subscribers during Jul-Oct.

Ufone

Ufone subscribers base reached 20.8 million with addition of 0.159 million new users.

Warid

Warid subscribers’ base contracted by 1.4 million massively. Its base stood at 15.9 million by October 2011