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3G subscription show staggering 550 % growth

3G subscriptions in Pakistan have shown a staggering over 550 per cent growth during last nine months with total count of mobile broadband (3G) subscribers crossing the 11 million mark.

In July 2014 the number of 3G/4G subscribers was only 1.9 million and it jumped to 10.34 million by February 15 2015 with addition of an average one million per month.

A senior official of telecom sector regulator shared the figures at a road show organized here by Nokia Networks to demonstrate its 5G LTE and other network solutions.

With regard to 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployment and growth the official said the number of LTE connections worldwide more than doubled between 2013 and 2014 from 200 million to around half a billion (490 million).

The developing world makes up a quarter of global LTE connections by end of 2014 and by 2016 the developing world is expected to overtake developed world in terms of LTE connections.

The official said the potential of data services for telecom operators has highlighted that data revenues are now 25 percent of total telecom revenues up from 16 % before the auction of 3G/4G spectrum in April last year.

The official also revealed that the growth in data revenue shares suggest that telecom operators in Pakistan will soon be able to earn more from data services than conventional telephony services such as voice or SMS while industry experts said that Pakistani audience mostly comprising of youth is very receptive for any technology and data services are no different.

Pakistani subscribers clear hunger for more data means immense potential for telecom operators and a way for them to reap better Return of Investments (ROIs) in a market which was previously perceived by investors as saturated.

With regard to broadband subscriptions in the country the official said it has also reached a remarkable point up from mere 3.8 million just an year ago.

Head of Customer Marketing for Nokia Networks explained that LTE networks are considered to be as smooth as fixed (fibre) broadband even in the developed markets hinting that Pakistani market has tremendous potential for cellular operators who can tap 200 million population with wireless broadband solutions.



Source: http://www.geo.tv/article-182101-3G-subscription-show-staggering-550--growth

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