Telecom division adds 1.5Mn subscribers in first quarter of FY2018-19

ISLAMABAD: The mobile phone network operators has observed a massive augmentation by addition of almost 1.5 million latest customers to their networks in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (2018-19).

The major grounds for such new additional subscribers was a flow in the requirement of mobile internet and data among users all over Pakistan.

According to the data provided by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), it reveals that the number of total subscribers till June 2018 was 150.2 million, and as per September 2018 it has expanded to 151.7 million.

The enlargement of cellular phone users is mainly due to advantage of mobile internet services, as subscribers have migrated from using voice and tax services to data services. However, it is also observed that fresh users, are usually from a younger age group and mainly from urban areas, are more interested in making use of mobile internet for social media and video-broadcasting sites.

Furthermore, PTA’s data has provided information that Ufone’s total subscribers have reached to 20.9 million till September 2018 as compared to 20.3 million subscribers in June 2018. Ufone has added 0.6 million subscribers during the first quarter. However, Ufone is the only network provider in Pakistan that is providing a 3G-only network around the country, as compared to the other three major operators operating 3G and 4G services at the same time.

Also, Jazz’s total subscribers have reached to 56.09 million as of September 2018 from 55.4 million in June 2018, jazz has added 0.525 million new users during this time period.

Zong’s entire subscribers have reached to 31.48 million till September 2018 from 30.89 million in June 2018, which shows that Zong has added 0.59 million new users during this period.

However, Telenor’s total subscribers have reached 43.23 million till September 2018 from 43.56 million in June 2018, showing that Telenor had lost 0.33 million users during this period.

According to the data revealed by PTA, it is observed that cellular network companies are facing neck to neck competition with each passing month. However, the distinction of service is a key factor for all the operators in order to attract the new customers along with the existing customers retention for the prosperous future.