GITEX 2012 INTERVIEWS ITU TELECOM World 2012 - Teletimes

PTCL holds 17th Annual General MeetingAqeel ShigriPakistan TelecommunicationCompany Limited (PTCL)held its 17th Annual Generalmeeting, Chaired by Chairman,PTCL Board of Directors, AmirTariq Zaman Khan and attendedby a large number of PTCLshareholders. The meetingapprised the shareholders ofthe company’s ongoing effortsand achievements attaintedduring the past financial year.“Despite the economicchallenges facing the country,PTCL has remained strongin emerging segments ofbroadband both in wire-lineas well as wireless and othercorporate services”, saidMr. Amir Tariq in his openingremarks. “For the year underreview, PTCL Group’s profitafter tax was Rs. 11.5 billion,36% higher compared to theprofit achieved last year, whereGroup’s revenue was Rs.110.8billion for the year 2011-12which is 8% higher as comparedto the previous year.”Chairman PTCL BoD AmirTariq Zaman Khan assured theshareholders that all strategiesplanned and implemented bythe board are aimed towardsutilizing PTCL’s full potentialand to achieve the corporateobjectives with competenceand determination.“Our shareholders’ sustainedconfidence and trust in PTCLis a result of our continuedcommitment to ensuringtransparent and seamless flowof information”, said Presidentand CEO, PTCL Walid Irshaid“Our strategies revolve aroundbuilding a unique customerexperience by bringingproducts which meet the needsof the future. ”PTCL was declared the leadingoperator in Pakistan byPakistan TelecommunicationAuthority’s 2011 Quality ofService survey for providingPTCL will bid for 3G license auction: EtisalatEtisalat, a UAE based telecomoperator, has reaffirmed itsconfidence in Pakistani telecommarket by announcing that itwill definitely bid for 3G licenseauction, planned by Pakistangovernment in next fewmonths.Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar,Etisalat’s chief executive,in an interview with UAEbased newspaper hinted thatPTCL will focus on wirelessbroadband services in Pakistanafter wining 3G license, amarket in which PTCL alreadyholds major market share butstill has plentiful of potentialfor growth.“Pakistan is a market withclose to 200 million people.The broadband penetration isvery low and there are no 3Gservices. So the potential ishuge,” Mr. Julfar was quotedas saying.Etisalat is still considering theamount of investment it willinject into PTCL for networkrollout and expansion of 3Gspectrum. It said that finaldecision for investment willlargely depend on 3G spectrumcost and terms set by thePakistani government.Earlier this year Mr. WalidIrshaid, President and CEO ofPTCL, had also hinted that PTCLwill bid for 3G license auction.It merits mentioning here thatPTCL has conducted LTE trialswith ZTE and Huawei.On other hands Pakistanigovernment is considering toban operators with outstandingliabilities from bidding for3G license auction. In suchsituation Etisalat might notbe able to participate in thebidding since it is holding USD800 million payment againsta sale of 26 percent shares ofPTCL in 2006.Etisalat said that it will paythe pending amount afterresolution of long pendingproperty dispute withthe highest quality BroadbandInternet service to consumers.PTCL also celebrated thehistoric milestone of becomingthe first Broadband serviceprovider to achieve ‘OneMillion Broadband Customers’mark this year.The year under review saw awide range of new services andproducts introduced under thebanner of 3G ‘EVO’.government of Pakistan.Pakistan has repeatedlyasked Etisalat for clearing thepayment but all such requestsare put on deaf ears by Etisalat.It should be noted here thatPakistan TelecommunicationAuthority has finalized theappointment of a consultancyfirm for 3G auction process.Committee for the formulationand finalization of 3G policyis currently in process ofwrapping up things. Havingsaid this, the realization of 3Gstill seems bumpy given thepolitical situation of the countryand bureaucratic conflicts atregulatory head office.60 November 2012www.teletimesinternational.com