Page 47 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Pakistan To Get 5G by 2022-23

Pakistan has kick-started its journey to estimates the economic contribution of services, an increase of 77% was seen
make the most advanced 5G internet the mobile industry in Pakistan will reach in data usage for FY20. PTA has geared
commercially available to consumers $24 billion, contributing 6.6% to total up to hire international consultants for
in 2022-23, which would accelerate the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2023. market valuation and auction of spectrum
download speed 10 times to one gigabit The telecommunication authority said it, in 1,800 MHz and 2,100 MHz in Pakistan
per second (Gbps) and widen economic along with the government, would publish including AJK and G-B. “The availability of
activities significantly in the country. The a Spectrum Master Plan and a Spectrum additional spectrum in 1,800 MHz will also
government of Pakistan is developing Rolling Strategy to enable operators to enable operators to expand their existing
a comprehensive roadmap for 5G plan their investments in a more efficient 4G operations and transition to advance
technology readiness in the country. It is manner. Together, they will need to create technologies.” It is aimed at auctioning “the
aimed at auctioning “spectrum for…5G an environment that encourages creativity spectrum for the proliferation of LTE and
services in fiscal year 2023,” the Pakistan and innovation so that large and small VoLTE Services in FY21 and 5G services in
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said businesses can explore the possibilities FY23. Furthermore, it has also planned for
in its annual report 2020. The Covid-19 created by 5G. In Pakistan, 98% of the re-farming of spectrum allocated to WLL
pandemic proved a blessing in disguise households own a mobile phone whereas operators, which will also make additional
as the digital economy widened multi-fold penetration of mobile services reached spectrum available for 5G services.” It was
during these testing times in Pakistan. 81.1% at the end of October 2020, with 172.3 learnt that the government has estimated
The crisis has prompted regulators million mobile subscriptions. Broadband to raise Rs27 billion through the auction of
and stakeholders to improve digital subscriptions showed impressive growth the spectrum in FY21. Earlier, the authority
infrastructure. Earlier, mobile phone service trends of 17% during FY20, crossing the had directed mobile phone service
providing firms successfully conducted 90.1 million mark in October 2020, whereas providing firms to refund Rs9.2 billion to
a test trial of 5G services under limited 4G subscriptions registered an exponential consumers following the Supreme Court
environment and on non-commercial 60% growth in FY20. Resultantly, total debarred the firms from the imposition of
basis in 2019 and 2020. Pakistan stands broadband penetration in Pakistan service and maintenance charges in 2019.
the first country in South Asia to test 5G reached 42.4% by the end of October However, they have so far refunded only
“with a recorded download speed of more 2020. With the expansion of 3G and 4G Rs6.9 billion.
than one Gbps.” The tested speeds stand
10 times high compared to 100 megabits
per second (Mbps) on 4G internet in the
world, it was learnt. Federal Minister
for IT and Telecommunication Aminul
Haque said the government has planned
to launch 5G technology by December
2022 but experts in different fields are
still skeptical, believing the country will
take a much longer time (5-7 years) to
roll out the next-generation technology.
Haque made a test video call through
5G to China and said it was a wonderful
experience. The voice was loud and clear,
and the video quality was also wonderful,
according to an international media outlet.
The modern technology would make great
economic progress when it comes to
Pakistan, Haque added. GSM Association

Maroc Telecom Rebrands African Subsidiaries as Moov Africa

Maroc Telecom has rebranded its eleven on the continent, has revealed its plans on the move”, which lies in the principle
subsidiaries in Africa as Moov Africa, to unite its subsidiaries around a single of sharing the group’s know-how and its
effective 1 January 2021. The company, identity. ‘This new identity illustrates the capacity for innovation for the benefit of
which has more than 70 million customers vision of the Maroc Telecom group “Africa the countries in which it operates’.

47 JANUARY 2021