China Mobile will largely electrify its mobile towers (BTS) with cellular energy, in order to meet energy requirements in the country, said Wang Jianzhou, Chief Executive, China Mobile Communication Corporation, parent company of China Mobile Pakistan, to a group of Pakistani journalists (from electronic media).
It may be recalled that Huawei has already deployed solar powered BTS for China Mobile in AJK. While, in China, China mobile has deployed 2,000 solar powered base stations, out of total 170,000, across the country.
The CMCC chief said power crisis was one of the major hurdles in smooth functioning and growth of cellular phone companies in Pakistan, where cell stations had to be equipped with electricity generators at all times, which increased operating costs. He cited higher taxes, high operating costs and import duties on equipment purchase as other major challenges for the cell phone operators in an environment where profit margins had been narrowing due to stiff competition.
China Mobile Pakistan would further invest US$500 million by the end of the current year to propel growth of its cellular phone service, Zong, which was providing thousands of direct and indirect jobs. “So far the performance of Zong is in line with our expectations and we will do more to boost its output,” he said.
To a question, Jianzhou dismissed all reports as rumours about acquisition of other cellphone companies in the region by China Mobile Pakistan. “We will let you know whenever such development takes place,” he said.
Via The News