Mobilink Loosing Its Ground or Already lost it?

We have seen Mobilink’s declining sales in previous months, which maybe didn’t jolt experts’ mind due to their size and weight of customers. It’s very obvious that a company with subscribers’ base of 31 million can not attain growth rate of even 1 percent or so, also given that cellular subscribers’ teledensity has hit 56 percent mark.

But following figures of international outgoing traffic for cellular companies (through PTCL) for the period of April, May and June 2008 may wide open many eyes. A very reliable industry source has given us these stats (however these stats can’t be considered official – but we are likely to see them in coming PTA’s annual report) which reveals that Mobilink is almost disappearing from the graph.

May 2008 can be considered most shocking month for Mobilink, as they were able to generate merely 56,142 minutes for international calls compared 64,371 in June 2008. For all of three months, Mobilink earned total of 1,581,309 international minutes. Even Zong scored more international traffic than Mobilink with 5,356,917 minutes in the same period.

Mobilink Loosing Its Ground or Already lost it?
While on other hands, Ufone’s skyscraper is seen very firm standing at 81,340,900 minutes for three months. Warid is heading Telenor with 18,533,756 minutes, where Telenor gained 12,504,509 minutes. Instaphone seems contented with their 5,438 international outgoing minutes in three months.

This traffic information for international outgoing is just a depiction of market situation. However, we can’t actually assume this international traffic (through PTCL) as directly proportional to local or national traffic these companies have; but due to a fact that international traffic contributes major part in revenues (due to very low local call rates), it is considered vital. We are awaiting official comments from Mobilink on this.

We are not sure about how well Mobilink’s international call half rate offer played for them, but we hope that cellular giant is going to do enough in coming months to retain its position.

Note: These stats represent traffic carried away from PTCL Gateway for International outgoing calls only.

Update: In response to a question that If Mobilink uses any other gateway for international outgoing traffic other than PTCL?? If yes then what proportion of international traffic is routed to PTCL’s gateway? and what share goes to other resources?

Mobilink official replied: ” We use our own LDI (Long Distance International) in addition to PTCL”

Tech and telecom reporter for over 15 years


  • These stats look so un-real.

    The largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers can never be at the bottom of these sorts of graphs.

    You better check it with Mobilink or wait for some official words by PTA.

  • if these are accurate figures, then these are drastic
    and i’ll be very happy if
    موبیلنک کی منجی لگ جاءے

  • Dear Aamir,

    Mobilink does not use PTCL for its international calls. They have their own international gateway and their own undersea cable to connect them to the world. All the international calls of Mobilink go through their own international carrier called M-Link. PTCL only get the overflow traffic (which is less than 0.1% of the overall traffic).

    So your assessment and interpretation is wrong!!!

    Cheers,

  • apropos to mr.atta

    well bro i endorse rommel in this regard..you need to communicate mobilink officials..only then you will be able to comeup with some valid facts and figures

  • telenor’s new corporate ad is out and it is quite sophisticated one must say . .atleast it’s better than all dos dancing ads what does everyone think about the ad??

  • aamir, once again you have come up with such statments that doesnot protray even a hand full reality, Mobilink indeed uses its own LDI and indeed has its own under-sea cable which conects to middle-east and rest of the world, and even the local connectivity is based on its own optic fiber making it a “total cummunication solution” provider
    secondly the sales figure also doesnt show an accurate picture as we must realize that we have almost reached maturity era and in order to sustain, dourment subscribers with-in its customer base should be re-energized which also is cost effective and the company is doing a great job in it
    i request you to please donot post articales which is totally untrue and hit at its reputation
    if Mobilink spokesman is comment-less thats maybe because of its privacy policy however not making these statments right
    hope you undersatnd the reponsibilty of sharing accurate information
    Thank You

  • aamir, is this factual “Mobilink loosing its ground or already lost it?” on the basis of traffic stat of PTCL when it has its own carriers
    anyways your reply is appreciated


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