The number of 3G subscribers in Pakistan reached 10.3 million as of the end of February, according to new statistics published late last week by the regulator.
The strongest performer in the country’s nascent 3G sector is Telenor, which is adding customers at a more rapid rate than its competitors and as such is increasing its overall market share.
The Norwegian telco had 3.1 million 3G subscriptions at the end of last month, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reported, giving it a 31% share of the 3G market. Its 3G customer base grew by more than 878,000 in the first two months of this year.
Telenor leads the 3G space, having overtaken rivals Mobilink and Ufone in December.
In the overall mobile market it ranks second, but its strength in 3G is helping it to boost its market share. It claimed 27% of Pakistan’s 136.6 million mobile subscribers at the end of February, up from a 26% share six months earlier. That leaves it just one percentage point behind leader Mobilink, whose market share stayed flat over the same period at 28%.
Pakistan auctioned off 3G licences just under a year ago. Ufone was first to market with a 3G service the following month, and a few weeks later Telenor also made commercial services available.
There were 4G licences up for grabs at the same auction, but only China Mobile-owned Zong picked up spectrum. The telco’s LTE service had attracted 7,621 users by the end of February, the PTA said.
Meanwhile, Warid did not take part in the auction but has launched LTE services using spectrum already in its possession. It had 60,923 LTE subscribers.
