Pakistan’s leading telecommunication network CMPak (Zong) is all set to take one step forward from 4G to the cutting edge 5G services to its valued customers despite the fact the regulator (PTA) has not yet given the green light for commercial 5G launches.
The company has however conducted 5G tests successfully and finds the market quite ready for the new state-of-the-art service. Director Corporate Affairs of Zong Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui while addressing a roundtable briefed the media persons about Zong’s ‘amazing’ journey and its commitment to the Pakistani economy and development.
Director Network & Planning Farooq Raza Khan was also there to answer the journalists’ queries. Since its launch ten years back, Zong has contributed US$ 1 billion in direct & indirect taxes and more than US$ 2 billion have been invested in infrastructure, he said.
“Whatever we are earning we are returning to Pakistan’s economy in the form of investing and re-investing, said Siddiqui adding, “We are not here with a short-term objective.” Zong was the first telecommunication operator to launch 4G services in the country in 2014 and at present has the largest 4G subscribers base of 15 million (14.7 million to be exact by the end of 2019), said Rizwan Siddiqui.
To a question if he thought market was ripe for the new 5G services, he said at present 5G service is successfully operational in over 20 countries including China, Japan and South Korea. Being a subsidiary of China Mobile and on the basis of our trial we are confident to roll out the 5G once the regulator Pakistan Telecommunication Authority announces the details in this regard.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ministry of Information Technology (IT) has already constituted a committee for the auction of 5G spectrum in the country to formulate policy regarding the auction of 5G licences, including its fee and other issues.
Rizwan Siddiqui said CMPak under the leadership of Mr Wang Hua has been experiencing significant growth. Mr Wang assumed the charge as CEO of the company in February 2018 and has a rich experience of telecom sector (China Mobile) in China.
It goes to the vision of Mr Wang that Zong with the largest 4G subscriber base experienced more than 34pc growth and his strategic vision has a firmed CMPak’s position as the 4G leader in the country, he said. Taken over in 2007 with a market share of only 2pc, Zong has seen exponential growth in the last few years to increase it by 10 folds to about 22.2pc, he said.
Currently, CMPak engages in the provision of cellular mobile voice and data services to the Pakistani market through 2G, 3G and 4G technologies. At present, said Mr Siddiqui, we are the leading operator in the industry with network leadership, service leadership and 4G market leadership. “Our 4G brand has been widely recognized by the market and customers, as we have built the industry’s No.1 data network,” he said. To a question, he said currently, we are in the process of evolving an innovative IoT ecosystem which will usher Pakistan into a new age of connectivity that will impact the lives of millions of Pakistanis.
Currently we are the only operator in Pakistan that has launched IoT platform locally known as ONEnet. CMPak will be providing it to the universities, incubation centers, startups and other IOT companies all around Pakistan thereby unlocking great value for the Pakistani business society and community at large.