This is a best prospect industry for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 7/10/2019

Overview

Recent liberalization of the telecom sector has made telecommunications one of Pakistan’s most promising sectors. Today, four cellular companies are operating in the country with a customer base approaching 161 million subscribers. The private sector is now actively involved in the expansion and development of telecommunication services. It provides cellular telephone services, card payphone, internet/broadband services, and, with the privatization of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), it also provides fixed line telephone services.

Pakistan’s telecom sector has enormous growth potential. A major development in the sector was the auction of the 3G/4G license by the Government of Pakistan. All cellular operators participated in the auction and 3G licenses were awarded to Mobilink, Ufone, and Telenor and the 3G/4G license was awarded to Zong. With telecom operators rolling out 3G/4G services, the number of its subscription has grown quickly and stands at 70 million. This surge has created a huge demand for smartphones, which is the top selling category across all major e-commerce platforms.

Telecom Infrastructure:
Pakistan's telecommunications infrastructure includes: Microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks. International links include: landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable systems that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; as well as the recently-completed fiber-optic land cable from China to the city of Rawalpindi.

Teledensity:
At the end of FY-18, Pakistan’s total teledensity increased to 76.69 percent, with a growth of five percent over the previous year – attributed solely to increases in cellular mobile use. Telecom operators achieved this despite the country’s continued slow economic growth.

Telecommunication Equipment:
The present market size for the import of telecommunication equipment (including handsets) is estimated at $970 million. The world’s leading telecom infrastructure providers like Ericsson, ZTE and Huawei have established branches in Pakistan and are engaged in design, development, installation, configuration and maintenance of telecom installations. Other vendors of telecom equipment and services in Pakistan include Advance Digital, Inc., GD Satcom, iDirect, Comtech EF Data Corp., NEC Corporation, Conexant Systems, Agere Systems, Al-Futtaim, Cambridge Silicon, Panasonic, Catecom, Quanta, Ruckus, Computational Systems, Tellabs, Symbol Technologies and Emerson Process.

Leading Sub-Sectors


Telecom switches
Radio communication links
Fiber optic cables
Towers, poles, ducts and pits used in conjunction with other infrastructure facilities
Tower sharing services
Broadband services
Back-up power for telecommunication towers

Opportunities

The telecommunication sector in Pakistan experienced very rapid growth from over a decade.  With 3G/4G licenses in place, investment in this sector will continue.

Web Resources

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited
 

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