New numbers revealed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) show a sharp decline in 3G subscribers in Pakistan. The numbers appear to have decreased by 0.2 million to 29.5 million in June as compared to 29.7 million in May. Moreover, the mobile phone users reached from 114.66 million in June 2015 to 133.24 million in June 2016, witnessing an increase of 18.58 million during the last one year.
According to the report, two operators, Mobilink and Ufone, have seen a sharp decline in their 3G users. Mobilink’s 3G subscribers decreased from 9,261,146 in May to 8,919,218 in June. Ufone’s 3G subscribers decreased from 5,326,429 in May to 5,223,096 in June.
On the other hand, the 3G subscribers for Zong and Telenor increased to 5,988,197 and 8,371,991 by June as compared to 5,921,890 and 8,278,048 in May. Warid LTE subscribers also jumped from 330,876 in May to 347,132 in June. The number of Zong’s 4G users witnessed an increase from 630,277 subscribers in May to 680,620 subscribers by June.
The report also delved into the total mobile phone users in Pakistan saying that the number reached 133.24 million by end June 2016, after five mobile phone companies added a combined user base of 0.22 million customers during the reported month. The combined user base of mobile companies registered a further decline and remained at 0.22 million in June against 0.37 million during the month of May 2016. The analysis shows that the number was 1.65 million by end December 2015, 2.14 million by January 2016, 1.8 million by February, 1.56 million by end-March and 1.24 million by April 2016.
Mobilink took the lead with 39,118,521 customers and is able to widen the lead after obtaining more than 50 million customers after their recent merger with Warid. Telenor is catching up with 38,020,771 customers, Zong has 25,251,329, Ufone is at 19,833,670, while Warid stands at 11,017,174 customers
Source – Business Recorder
