Posted by: Reality Bites on October 16, 2008 at 6:50 AM
According to PTA’s very recent public stats, the total numbers of cellular subscriber in Pakistan are soon going to hit 90 million mark. The saturated Telco’s market of Pakistan is now asking for QoS (Quality of Service), Continuous improvement in network infrastructure and customer service & care programs.
If we randomly analyze the Pakistan Telco’s market, we will get the findings that almost all of the major factors have been utilized. Recently, we all have observed new launches of Mobile Telco, though market was expecting huge change in pricing structures and in some DATA services to be free, but results were not as anticipated.
According to an estimation, it has been observed that most of the cellular subscribers utilize these connections as the secondary choice (few people may have different opinion here) and they registers every number as a habitual behavior. Thus investing millions of dollars in the same arena for customer acquisition is no more tactful attitude as it was before.
As pricing competition in Pakistan’s cellular market has almost broken every global record. The cheaper products & Services offer to try and beat off rivals’ offers, it’s a profit killer.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 6, 2008 at 1:50 PM
We have seen Mobilink’s declining sales in previous months, which maybe didn’t jolt experts’ mind due to their size and weight of customers. It’s very obvious that a company with subscribers’ base of 31 million can not attain growth rate of even 1 percent or so, also given that cellular subscribers’ teledensity has hit 56 percent mark.
But following figures of international outgoing traffic for cellular companies (through PTCL) for the period of April, May and June 2008 may wide open many eyes. A very reliable industry source has given us these stats (however these stats can’t be considered official – but we are likely to see them in coming PTA’s annual report) which reveals that Mobilink is almost disappearing from the graph.
May 2008 can be considered most shocking month for Mobilink, as they were able to generate merely 56,142 minutes for international calls compared 64,371 in June 2008. For all of three months, Mobilink earned total of 1,581,309 international minutes. Even Zong scored more international traffic than Mobilink with 5,356,917 minutes in the same period.
While on other hands, Ufone’s skyscraper is seen very firm standing at 81,340,900 minutes for three months. Warid is heading Telenor with 18,533,756 minutes, where Telenor gained 12,504,509 minutes. Instaphone seems contented with their 5,438 international outgoing minutes in three months.
This traffic information for international outgoing is just a depiction of market situation. However, we can’t actually assume this international traffic (through PTCL) as directly proportional to local or national traffic these companies have; but due to a fact that international traffic contributes major part in revenues (due to very low local call rates), it is considered vital. We are awaiting official comments from Mobilink on this.
We are not sure about how well Mobilink’s international call half rate offer played for them, but we hope that cellular giant is going to do enough in coming months to retain its position.
Note: These stats represent traffic carried away from PTCL Gateway for International outgoing calls only.
Update: In response to a question that If Mobilink uses any other gateway for international outgoing traffic other than PTCL?? If yes then what proportion of international traffic is routed to PTCL’s gateway? and what share goes to other resources?
Mobilink official replied: ” We use our own LDI (Long Distance International) in addition to PTCL”
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 5, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Interior Ministry has taken notice of increasing mobile snatching cases in country, especially in Karachi. Consequently, Interior Ministry Chief, Mr. Rehman Malik has directed police to shoot mobile snatchers at spot.
Daily Jang, citing interior ministry sources has reported that interior minister showed serious concerns over the issue while communicating with Inspector General Police Sindh. Mr. Malik passed orders to deploy special officials in all major markets and roads of Karachi with orders to shoot mobile phone snatchers without arresting them.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 30, 2008 at 1:40 PM
I will remain away for couple of days, for Eid Vacations… and will get back On October 4th, 2008. Meanwhile, new commentators may not see their comments appearing, due to moderation.
Wishing you all very Happy Eid - May Allah give us all pleasures and treasures of Life..
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 22, 2008 at 12:29 PM
PTA has been, somewhat, consistently publishing quarterly and annual industry reports for few years now. These industry reports are packed with industry indicators, industry direction, updates and other major elements of Telecom sector of Pakistan.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has failed to publish its quarterly reports lately. Its last report was for Q1 2008, and in past too we have seen PTA missing its quarterly and even annual reports.
When contacted PTA officials, in this regard, in a response to a question that what is actually hindering the authority to publish its quarterly industry report? He said that “PTA publishes 3 quarterly reports while 4th and last one is merged with the annual report. Annual report for the current year will be published shortly.” It merits mentioning here that we have already spent Q3 2008, but there came neither the quarterly report for Q2 nor the annual report.
A PTA source, who requested anonymity, has told us that PTCL was actually the main hindrance for the publication of quarterly report for Q2 2008. He maintained that PTCL had not been giving its data to authority, despite repetitive notices.
However, we have learned that PTCL has now forwarded its statistics for Q2 2008 to PTA and authority has been compelling its report, which is likely to appear soon after Eid.
PTA’s previous annual reports and quarterly reports are available on its website.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 19, 2008 at 7:56 AM
Cabinet Division has floated an advertisement, inviting applications for vacant Member Technical slot. It merits mentioning here that Member Technical is second senior most position in PTA’s hierarchy along with Member Finance, after Chairman of PTA.
This position hold significant importance as one out of two members (Technical or Finance) is normally promoted to the seat of Chairman PTA.
Member Technical slot was freed by Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, after he was promoted to Chairmanship of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 19, 2008 at 6:54 AM
It is reported that District Consumer Court Judge Syed Maruf Ahmed Ali ordered PTCL to refund Rs 4,300 along with the cost amounting to Rs 10,000 to the petitioner within 10 days on an suit case filed by Muhammad Jamshed Rana under Punjab Consumer Protection Act, 2005, for the recovery of PTCL bill payments he made with the cost of suit – He had been paying phone bills while his phone remained dead.
“The Post” has reported that complainant was submitted against PTCL that was alleged that since the installation of the connection, it remained out of order and several written as well as telephonic complaints were made to PTCL, but to no effect, adding the petitioner was paying regularly monthly bills but the said phone connection has been out of order for the last 14 months.
Paper says that the petitioner did his best to get the issue resolved and he even approached GM, PTCL for restoration of the connection and refund of amount paid on account of line rent.
However, in total desperation, the petitioner issued a legal notice to PTCL but no reply was received and finally prayed to the court for the recovery of 14 months line rent and damages. Asif said the court, after hearing arguments of both sides and perusing the record, observed that the petitioner had proved his case and was entitled to refund of the amount along with another sum of Rs 10,000 which shall be paid by the respondent within 10 days of this order.
My first impression after reading this news was that PTCL will be hiring more lawyers in coming days, as this can be a start to un-ending suit cases against them. To be true, not only PTCL, but all other telecom companies may face such Suits from their subscribers, if they violate any consumer law.
This is maybe a warning message to service providers that get better or there are heavy suits waiting for them ahead…
One of my friend is also planning to file a suit against UBL for holding Rs. 50,000 for 10 days without any reason. And even his complain was not logged by CSR… I will post you guys once there is any update on this
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 18, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. Has announced that it has closed a deal with Telenor Pakistan to develop their CRBT (Color Ring Back Tone) system platform, said a press release sent by Mr. Jim Huang, Manager Marketing from Huawei Pakistan.
Press release, while quoting Mr. Lars Christian Iuel, the Chief Marketing Officer of Telenor Pakistan, said, “Under this contract Huawei will provide a highly scalable and robust CRBT solution with a capacity of 7 million subscribers. This aspect along with exciting new features of the service will enable Telenor to greatly improve its service abilities.”
“CRBT has become one of the key strategies by which carriers are attracting new customers and as a world leading vendor in providing CRBT solution, Huawei’s reliable and stable platform will satisfy Telenor’s long term development needs and maximize its competitive advantages in the VAS domain in Pakistan,” added Mr. August Ye, Deputy CEO of Huawei Pakistan.
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