Ride-hailing services increased mobile internet subscribers

ISLAMABAD: Ride-hailing services Uber and Careem have increased the mobile internet subscribers as its mandatory for driver to stay online throughout his duty hours for that every driver required a data sim.

As many as number of registered cars increase the number of mobile internet subscribers will also increase with it.

Careem Manager at Islamabad said,in line with our vision to improve and simplify the lives of people, we want to bring technological and financial inclusion in addiction to enhanced earning for general masses.

According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the number of mobile internet subscribers reached a record 40.56 million by the end of April 2017.

Pakistan is also one of many developing countries where the usage of internet is rising day by day, the main source of connecting to the internet is through mobiles.

People across the country use mobile internet to fetch a ride to reach at their destination.

Mobile internet users in the country have grown significantly in the numbers and reached a record 40.56 million active mobile internet users by the end of April 2017, an official told APP.

He said "29% of mobile phone users are now internet users as well. They were standing at 22% by the end of the previous fiscal year in June 2016".

On an average, the number of mobile internet subscriptions stood at 976,600 per month compared to mobile subscriptions at 703,617 per month in the past 10 months, according to PTA.

Moreover, Ministry of Information and Technology has recently sought approval from the Federal cabinet to roll out 5G services in the country. The step is taken in a bid to promote and improve 5G Services in Pakistan.

This approval will allow the Ministry of Information and Technology to test the latest technology in mobile communications in Pakistan.

Keeping in view the increase in mobile internet users, the government has reduced custom duty on smart phones to promote the usage of the smart phones and internet which could ensure a new era of evolution in the country.