Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 20, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Financial conditions of cellular companies in Pakistan seems to be unstable as most of cellular companies are operating in loss despite significant increment in their revenues over the time; but these revenues are leveled by increased operating expenses, network expansion and depreciation i local currency.
Operating expanses of cellular companies have increased due to inflation and depreciation of Pakistani currency. This depreciation in currency is effecting cellular companies in two ways, first the cost of machinery and infrastructure gets higher, secondly those companies that depend on foreign loans from sources outside Pakistan bear huge loss due to depreciation of currency. Continue Reading This Story
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 10, 2008 at 12:11 PM
We are told by very reliable sources that Zong is set ready to launch its EDGE card with-in this week.
ZONG has launched USB based GPRS / EDGE modem that is capable of connecting laptop / Desktop PCs with internet while on the go.
Zong’s plug and play Internet USB Card allows Internet browsing, instant access and the uninterrupted ability both to upload and download data. EDGE Card is compatible with Windows 2000 (SP4 or above), Windows XP (SP2 or above), Windows Vista and Mac, whether run on a PC, laptop or handheld device. SMS software is also installed, allowing texts to be sent directly from the computer
In addition to being connected to the Internet, customers will be able to:
- Check their connection status.
- View statistics of their internet usage. Will have access to their list of phonebook contacts, present on the SIM in the device. They will be able to add/edit/delete entries from the phonebook.
- To send text messages regardless of whether they are connected via GPRS or not.
Charges:
Initial Sale Price of ZONG Internet USB Card: Rs. 9,999
Unlimited GPRS package Rs. 400/month +tax.
SMS Charges:
Domestic SMS: Rs. 0.5/SMS +tax
International SMA: Rs. 5/SMS +tax
Each month the users will have to recharge the SIM account to continue using uninterrupted services @ Rs. 400+tax
(Thanks to Gumby for providing additional info, also Official Press Release helped me for this post)
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 3, 2008 at 5:35 AM
“Chinese will manage Pakistan’s market, and they will outplay everyone… They know how to get it”, I was told this by Mr. Frederic Rose, President then, Alcatel Shanghai Bell, Alcatel-Lucent’s flagship company in China. He was here in Islamabad to sign one billion dollars network expansion contract assigned to Alcatel-Lucent by China Mobile, which had recently acquired Paktel.
He replied me up given line when I had asked him that Pakistan’s market is already well saturated, how come a cellular company starting from scratch will be able to compete with Giants like Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone, Warid… given that, all these four companies bear very strong financial background, as well expertise of running GSM networks in multiple regions.
I am wondering now that how true Mr. Rose was. Yes, China Mobile has proven itself as a brand now, and it looks like they are going to give tough time to other cellular companies in coming days.
The hardest part for China Mobile was to rebuild the image that had been lost by Paktel; often we see, it’s easy to make a new building, than of restructuring a damaged one.
Launch
I was discussing this success of Zong with Babar Bhatti, who was kind enough to give me time before leaving for US tomorrow, and he rightly spotted that China Mobile didn’t rush in launching its brand. Zong took its full time in preparation and came up with a very powerful launch campaign, though we found that campaign as copied one, but until then it had left its impact on Pakistanis. Continue Reading This Story
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 1, 2008 at 2:51 PM
We have been notified by our readers (self tested as well) that there is a server crash on Zong’s end - hence Zong users are making free calls to any number, yes international numbers too, for free…!
We have notified Zong’s administration about this. Hopefully issue will get resolved soon.
Meanwhile you can enjoy free calls… but make sure that you have no balance in your SIM to avoid balance drop, as this error will get rectified any time.
Update: Issue has been rectified, and lucky Zong Users made free calls during past 50 minutes.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 25, 2008 at 7:19 AM
Yea, that’s true… you can call one Zong number unlimited calls 24×7 - but there is monthly rental of Rs. 500 plus tax. Despite the monthly subscription fee, this offer gonna rock.
Now there is a clear reason for the success of Zong… that it offers a package for each segment of users. If you are SMS addict, there is an option, incase you love GPRS, there is per hour Internet offer; you name your requirment and Zong has its solution for you. Though other companies are following the same lines, but Sales’ stats say Zong is outperforming them.
Getting back to this particular offer, 24 Hours free call at 1 Zong Number is available for “Zong Free Package” (This is name of the package). If you are not on Zong Free Package, then check below the process of converting your number to Zong Free Package
How to convert Package
Its simple, dial 908 and select your desired package. You can call the same number, that is 908, and select your one favorite number for 24 Hours Free Calls.
Another way is to send an SMS “Sub<Space>free<Space><Mobile Number>” and send it to 908.
Pricing (All Prices are including Taxes and are for 60 Seconds)
Monthly Subscription free of Rs. 500+105 = Rs. 605 (Rs. 105 are taxes)
Free Package Nationwide Tarrifs - 60 Second Pulse (Including Taxes)
ZONG to ZONG: Rs. 2.42
ZONG to any other network: Rs. 2.42
SMS to any network: Rs. 0.24
ZONG Friends and Family numbers: 10 numbers
1 Free ZongNumber *: Free
Late Night Offer (Midnight to 7:00 am)**: Rs. 4.82 per hour
Break Time Offer (Noon to 2:00 pm)**: Rs. 4.82 per hour
ZONG Friends and Family rate: Rs. 1.21
MMS: Rs. 3.63/100KB
Mobile Internet: Rs. 12.1/MB
- ” = Limited Time Offer
- ** = All Zong Numbers
- You can subscribe to ZONG Free Package by dialing 908 with onetime charges of Rs. 15 only - Excluding Taxes (first time migration to this package is free)
- Balance validity is based on re-charge
- The free number can be modified only once every month
- You can choose to unsubscribe from Break Time offer by calling 310
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 9, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Zong’s Free Package, allows you to call all Zong Numbers at Rs. 3.99 (exclusive of taxes) from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Other features include:
- Call one favorite ZONG number from midnight to 7am - absolutely free – for lifetime! Zong says it’s a a limited time offer, so rush now before you miss the deal of a lifetime!
- During Break Time Hours call all ZONG numbers at Rs.3.99 per hour from 12:00 PM to 2.00 PM.
- Add upto 10 Friends and Family numbers
Call Tariff for “Zong Free Package”
ZONG to ZONG: Rs. 2.00
ZONG to any other network: Rs. 2.00
SMS to any network: Rs. 0.20
1 Free Number Life Time - Midnight to 7:00 AM: Free
Late Night Offer, All Zong Numbers - Midnight to 7:00 AM: Rs. 3.99 per hour
Break Time Offer, All Zong Numbers – 12 PM to 2:00 PM: Rs. 3.99 per hour
ZONG Friends and Family numbers: 10 numbers
ZONG Friends and Family rate: Rs. 1.00
MMS: Rs. 3/100KB
Mobile Internet: Rs. 10/MB
Note: All Prices are exclusive of 21 Percent tax
How to Subscribe:
- You can subscribe to ZONG Free Package by dialing 900 with onetime charges of Rs. 15 only (first time migration to this package is free)
- Balance validity is based on re-charge
- Daily subscription charges are Re. 1
- The free number can be modified only once every month
- You can choose to unsubscribe from Break Time offer by calling 310
- To avail one free number the subscriber needs to maintain balance of Re.1. To reactivate call 900
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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 September 29, 2008 at 3:56 AM
Wang Jianzhou, Chairman and Chief Executive, China Mobile, has said that company is interested in expanding its network in emerging markets, primarily in Asia and Africa, despite huge risks.
Reuters, citing Wang Jianzhou has reported that world’s largest mobile phone operator is going to invest further USD 800 millions in Pakistan only. Chief Executive said that after initial investment of USD 400 million, company has injected another USD 1.2 billion for network expansion, while taking number of cell sites to 4000 from just 800 since acquisition took place.
Despite political and markets risks, company is positive to invest more in Pakistani market. “We have a lot of risks, we have a lot of troubles,” Wang said
Wang was of the view that operating expenses in Pakistan are high due to power shortages in major cities and hiked taxes, while China Mobile’s investment in the country is still to see return. These statements can be taken as sighs of relief for Pakistan’s market, especially, when cellular companies are performing too little.
In such a scenario, decisions like these from other cellular companies can better the dropping level of revenues for telecom sector.
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