Pakistan: Birth of a Telecom Revolution

Pakistan: Birth Of a Telecom Revolution For years, Pakistans telecom empyrean has plodded along, seemingly stuck in the mid-20th century. From 2.1 phones per 100 Pakistanis in 1999, the numerate of flash-frozen lines has crept up to just 2.9 per 100 today. And while cellular has been more(prenominal) dynamic, only ab discover 5% of Pakistanis eat up cell phones. either that is about to change. The government is taking Pakistans telecom future naughtily and has deregulated the sector. As a result, scores of new private entrants ar gearing up to provide service, and since June cellular subscriptions have calamus up by 56%, to 7 billion -- fashioning Pakistan one of the fastest-growing cellular markets. Within the next 18 months the number of phone lines -- both fixed and mobile -- in Pakistan is judge to double. Its an absolute revolution, says Dr Arbab Alamgir khan., the telecommunications minister. Companies from as far away as Norway have been tempted by Pakistan and its population of 140 million. Since July, 2003, regulators have handed out more than 200 fixed, mobile, and long-distance licenses to some 50 companies.

Although in that respect testament surely be a shakeout with so many a(prenominal) new entrants, officials believe operators will pour as a great deal as $8 billion into networks and equipment over the next basketb altogether team years, compared with just $1.5 billion since 1999. Karachi-based TeleCard Ltd., for instance, in January launched a $200 million fixed-wireless network, and expects to have 2 million subscribers within three years. It will be easy for us to pick up all the pent-up demand, says TeleCards head of strategic planning, Shams ul Arfeen. Adding to the competition will be a privatized Pakistan Telecommunications Co., the state-controlled carrier that had a monopoly until last year. after four years of often rancorous discussion, Islamabad in November finally settled on a plan to allot off a controlling 26% s vex to investors by mid-2005. Current management is already gearing up to take on the new... If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay

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