Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has stated that in 11 months of 2019 (as of November 30), mobile imports stood at 7.64 million compared to imports of 7.24 million in the last year.
With the addition of imports in December, the number could surpass the ones from last year.
Since the start of PTA’s Device Identification Registration & Blocking System (DIRBS), the use of fake, sub-standard mobile devices being imported via informal and illegal channels has been stopped.
Apart from smartphones, other devices having 3G and 4G technology functionality, such as IoT, dongles, tablets etc., imported in 11 months (Jan-Nov 19) numbered 7.11 million devices as compared to 4.82 million devices imported in 2018 (Jan-Dec 18).
Furthermore, 4G devices connected to mobile operator’s networks have increased from 18 percent in January 2018 to 31 percent as of Nov 2019. Whereas 3G devices connected to their networks have decreased from 19 percent in January 2018 to 13 percent as of Nov 2019.
This reflects that users are preferring to migrate/utilise 4G-based devices over 3G ones.
The mobile broad band (BB) penetration has also increased from 51.8 million subscribers in Jan, 2018 to 76.4 million in Nov, 2019 showing an increase of 24.6 million (47.49 percent) due to increased usage of smartphones.
It is also important to mention that 4G smartphones are being sold in Pakistan for as low as Rs.6,500.
PTA se YOY increase in imports ka data bhi lain phir asal pata chale ga. I think they have deliberately tried to hide YOY growth of Smartphone imports. Q K woh decrease hui hai.