Total broadband users in Pakistan hit 70 million

[Shahzaz ud din]

Total broadband users in Pakistan hit 70 million
By Our Correspondent
Published: June 2, 2019
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Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: Total broadband, 3G, 4G and landline internet users, in Pakistan have reached a milestone of 70 million, according to latest data by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Out of the 70 million users, 67 million are 3G and 4G subscribers. The number of total cellular subscribers in Pakistan had reached 161 million by end-April 2019, 1.26% more than 159 million in the previous month, according to PTA.

The total count of Jazz’s 4G users grew from 8.774 million by end of March to 9.618 by end of April, according to PTA data. However, the company released a presser on Friday that it has crossed the 10-million mark for 4G data subscribers. The company’s 3G user number stood at 13.393 million by end-April compared to 13.622 million by end-March, a decrease of 0.229 million.



Telenor 4G subscribers jumped to 6.186 million by end-April 2019 against 5.905 million, while the company’s 3G users decreased from 8.764 million in March to 8.640 million in April.

Zong 4G users also soared from 11.6 million by the end of March 2019 to 12.056 million by end-April.

3G subscribers of the Chinese cellular company increased from 8.764 million in March to 8.779 million in April 2019.

Ufone 4G users stood at 1.156 million in the month under review, while its 3G users declined from 7.846 million in March to 7.646 million in April, down by 0.2 million.

Improved internet penetration has a positive impact on the economy of any country, said an industry official. Due to increased broadband, Pakistan is moving towards financial inclusion.

People in remote areas could not use financial services before, but now they are using banking on mobile, due to which the number of accountholders has reached 53 million, according to the State Bank of Pakistan report of June 2018.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2019.

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Read more: Internet , Latest

 

[Imran Khan]

Rest are kids and old people

 

[Sugarcane]

Improved internet penetration has a positive impact on the economy of any country

Ghanta positive impact, Saray facebook or WhatsApp pe message forward karnay lagay rahtay hain.

 

[Shahzaz ud din]

Ghanta positive impact, Saray facebook or WhatsApp pe message forward karnay lagay rahtay hain.

 

[khansaheeb]

The threat to Pakistan increases with increase internet traffic, we need to have a military division to deal with this as it s on a colossal scale and a threat to our very survival.:-

Pakistan top target for foreign espionage, Senate committee told
Inamullah KhattakJanuary 19, 2017
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In light of revelations that Pakistan is a popular target for foreign espionage, members of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday advised the government to take immediate steps to ensure cyber security for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and its missions abroad.

Senator Mushahid Hussain, addressing the meeting, had earlier told the committee said that Pakistan is one of three countries in the world — alongside China and Iran — monitored extensively by foreign spies.

Explore: NSA used malware to spy on Pakistani civilian, military leadership: report

Hussain lamented that Pakistan had still not taken any measures to ensure cyber security. "We are quite late in this regard," he said, raising concerns over a delay in a release of funds sought by the MOFA for cyber security.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
The MOFA had sought Rs80 million from the federal government for the purposes of improving cyber security.

This amount has yet to be released by the federal government, an additional secretary of MOFA told the meeting.

He acknowledged on the occasion that there cyber threats to MOFA and Pakistan's missions abroad are ever present, and there is a serious need to secure them.

Read more: IB to brief senators on ‘spy signals’ aimed at PM Secretariat

During the meeting, the Foreign Office had to face severe criticism for a planned state guest house in Islamabad, for which it has sought Rs5 billion. Senator Hussain said it is ironic that MOFA is seeking Rs5bn for a state guest house when it cannot manage Rs80m for cyber security, which is a far greater threat.

The standing committee strongly recommended to the federal government that it release the funds promised for cyber security to MOFA on an emergency basis.

 

[Baburfromsarmarkand]

Need to tax these ppl

 

[HammerHead081]

Need to tax these ppl

If you want a country economy to grow faster then internet should literally be tax free. In this current era, internet is a necessity like water and food. We are still heavily taxed on internet. Rs. 70 balance on 100 card load... 35% tax on broadband connections. That's too much.

This has resulted in Fiber to home penetration to be less than 2%. Slowing down the expansion of companies such as Stormfiber and Fiberlink.

Pakistan is among the few countries where internet is taxed which is such a shame.

 

[Abdussamad]

Pakistan is among the few countries where internet is taxed which is such a shame.

The global average internet penetration rate is 50% but it's more like 30% in Pakistan. The country remains backward and people hate on internet connectivity. They hate on it even on online forums! I think it's jealousy. They don't want other Pakistanis to use the internet!

 

[xyxmt]

Rest are kids and old people

50% of those users are Kids, rest are poondi baaz

 

[Imran Khan]

50% of those users are Kids, rest are poondi baaz

thats good sign sir

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Ptcl wifi range sucks fat dicks. They deliberately reduced the range on their boxes so they can make more money.

 

[Hamza913]

Ptcl wifi range sucks fat dicks. They deliberately reduced the range on their boxes so they can make more money.

Lmao, control your tongue brother.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Lmao, control your tongue brother.

I mean, the internet situation here really pisses me off.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

Internet usage & packages are cheapest . Even , Sweeper can afford it. Also Internet speed & connectivity has improved.
PTCL help lines & other company services are also improved.

 

[xyxmt]

Ptcl wifi range sucks fat dicks. They deliberately reduced the range on their boxes so they can make more money.

All Wifi boxes range suck, I have tried so many boxes but I get good signal upto 2nd floor and 3rd floor is always shaky