Number of cellphone subscribers touches 145 million mark

The cellular subscribers have been reached 145 million with teledensity of 71.42%, as a result of initiatives taken by ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. The 3G/4G subscribers have been reached 48 billion out of 145 million mobile users in the country, teledensity for 3G/4G subscribers has reached 23.81 present and teledensity of cellular subscriber reached 71.42 percent till the month of December where as mobile broadband (3G/4G) users' were 37.574 million till December 2016, revealed by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Whereas broadband subscriber reached 51 billion and teledensity of broadband reached 24.96 percent, according to an official data. The Ufone 3G users reached 5.7 million, Telenor 3G users reached 10.63 million, Mobilink 3G users reached 14.29 million and Zong 3G users reached 9.5 million till December 2017.
Telenor 4G users reached 1.5 million; Mobilink 4G users reached 1.9 million and Zong 4G users reached 4.9 million. An official of IT Ministry said that once the infrastructure will be in place to achieve 100 percent 3G coverage, Pakistan will be ready to focus on the demand side of the technology; such as providing training for the masses who want to attain the best of digital skills.
To promote digital trends, tomorrow Ignite is going to inaugurate Digiskill programme to provide digital skill training to over 1 million Pakistani youth. He said telecommunication sector in the country has grown at a rapid pace and undergone an impressive transformation over the last four years.
Introduction of Mobile Broadband Services (3G / 4G/LTE) in Pakistan is one of the biggest achievements of information Technology and Telecommunication Ministry. In 2014 Award of four 3G licenses awarded to Jazz (Mobilink), Telenor, Ufone, and Zong and one 4G Licenses to Zong, in 2016- Award of 4G license awarded to Telenor and in 2017 Award of 4G licence to Jazz.
He said, Telecom Policy 2015 has been reviewed and integration of multiple telecom sector policies into one National Telecom Policy and Abolishment of ICH regime - measures to curb Grey Traffic. Another reason of growth of telecom sector is incentive package that has been given to local manufacturing of Smart phones.