Mobile telecom overview in Pakistan

Pakistan: Have a population of 150 million and a low income of $ 500 GDP per capita. Mobile penetration is just 4.5%, but mobile operators are making huge efforts in telecommunications investments. They will invest $1bn in 2005 and additional $4bn in capex over the next five years. This is to compare with $1bn in foreign direct investment (FDI) in all sectors of the Pakistan economy last year. The result could be to increase mobile penetration to 50 m users within 3-5 years from current 9m. Pakistan has 6 mobile licenses: Mobilink, Paktel, Ufone, Instaphone, Telenor and Warid. Telenor and Warid are just starting building their networks and launching services in 2Q05.