ISLAMABAD ( PAKISTAN )
Despite sevral challenges during the year 2011 teledensity of the country touched 68.39% reflecting hike of 6.7% over the previous year. But modest increase in cellular industry’s ARPU was witnessed from Us$2.41 in the previous fiscal year to US$ 2.45. Telecom sector revenues swelled to an all_time high Rs.362 billion during the year2011. The sector contributed over 116.9 billion to the national exchequer. GST/Fed collections from the sector spiked by 20% to Rs. 52.6 billion.
The document received by this report Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) annual report 2011 shows impressive land marks in telecom sector and its all due to authority’s actions and measures. Teledensity of the country touched 68.39% reflecting hike of 6.7% over the previous year. The number of mobile subscribers at the close of FY2011 stood at 108.9 million showing growth rate of 10% , double than that of the last year. Mobile penetration rose to 65.4% from 60.4% in the previous year. There has been an increase in number of Cell sites from 30,126 in june 2010 to 31,303 at the conclusion of FY 2011. A modest increase in cellular industry’s ARPU was witnessed from US$ 2.41 in the previous fiscal year to US$ 2.45.
Telecom sector contributed over Rs.116.9 billion to the national exchequer. GST/FED collections from the sector spiked by 20% to Rs.52.6 billion. Total telecom revenues swelled to an all time high Rs. 362 billion during the year. Cellular income which constitutes major chunk of the telecom revenues was boosted by 11% to Rs. 262 billion from Rs. 236 billion. During last three years, PTA has collected around Rs. 40 billion against APC for USF. In its drive to curb gray traffic, the Authority saved revenue of US$26 million.
Notwithstanding the fact that wireless technologies took over a major share of broadband market, the number of broadband users in the country jumped the one million mark by multiplying to 1,491,491 at the end of FY2011 from 900,648, recoding 66% increase. Broadband spread went up from 0.55% to 0.89%.
Local loop (LL) segment of the industry progressed modestly in the face of competition from the wireless solutions including mobile cellular services. LL teledensity was at 3.4% with subscription of5.72 million in june 2011.
The investment scene encouraging with investment of US$ 493 million in the telecom and FDI of US$ 79 million. The imports in this field witnessed climb of US$ 766 million from US$ 725 million. The imports of mobile handset shot up by 29% touching the mark of US$ 218 million.