The mobile phone operators in the country have managed to convert 1.63 million of their subscribers to 3G and 4G networks during March, thus taking the total subscription to around 12 million.
Almost half of these new 3G subscriptions came through Zong that claims to have added over 800,000 users to its 3G network during last month only.
Mobilink added 259,000 new users to 3G network while Telenor added 3,83,000 users to 3G Ufone managed to grab 1,92,000 users for 3G services. According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), 4G users in Pakistan reached 97,722 in March 2015-up from 68,184 a month ago.
Zong added 24,000 new 4G users in month of March to take its total 4G users to 31,582 while Warid’s 4G users count stood strong at 66,140 users. Meanwhile, an official at China Mobile (Zong) on Sunday said the company had stretched its 3G coverage to 40 cities.
With around 2.9 million 3G subscribers in hands, Zong has become the second largest 3G operator (in terms of customers) in the country. Zong official said it was undergoing an extensive 3G rollout campaign, as a result of which the number of 3G cities covered by Zong had increased to 40. All 40 cities enjoy carpet coverage for 3G.
The official said that Zong also plans on widespread extension of its 3G and 4G services in the current year, with expected service provision of 3G to reach a total of more than 100 cities as well as the whole of Motorway and GT Road.
Similarly, another operator, Ufone has partnered with Towershare to expand its network on a shared basis in difficult areas.
The Towershare will build its own new sites on which it will rent space to Ufone in rural and remote areas. Initially, Towershare will offer a roll out of 39 sites for Ufone in FATA.
