Pakistan, located in South Asia, has a diverse geography with mountains in the north, fertile plains in the centre, and a desert region in the south. The country's population of approximately 230 million is unevenly distributed, with significant concentrations in urban centres such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the northwest region present unique challenges due to their autonomous status and rugged terrain. In terms of infrastructure solutions, Pakistan has made considerable strides in telecommunications, with high mobile penetration and increasing internet access, particularly in urban areas. The technology sector, however, is still in a developing phase, despite the growth of tech start-ups and increased government investment. Similarly, the renewable energy sector, whilst growing, is still in its early stages, with solar and wind energy production yet to reach their full potential.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 4 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) is a state-owned enterprise that operates as the primary telecommunications provider in Pakistan. It was established under the PTCL Act in 1996, following the corporatisation of the former Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation. The Government of Pakistan currently holds a majority stake in PTCL, with 62% of the shares. The remaining 26% of shares are publicly traded on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The UAE based telecommunications corporation, Etisalat, holds a managerial control in PTCL since 2006, owning a 12% stake in the company.
Telenor Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited is the second largest cellular & digital services provider in Pakistan. It is a subsidiary of Telenor Group, an international provider of voice, data, content and mobile communication services. Telenor Pakistan was established after acquiring a license for providing GSM services in Pakistan in April 2004. The company launched its services commercially in Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi on 15 March 2005, and expanded to Lahore, Faisalabad and Hyderabad on 23 March 2005. The corporate headquarters of Telenor Pakistan are in Islamabad, with regional offices...
Zong, formally known as CMPak Limited, is a prominent mobile data network operator based in Pakistan. The company is wholly owned by China Mobile, marking it as their first overseas establishment. It gained its license to operate a GSM network in Pakistan in 2008 through an acquisition from Millicom. The company's history dates back to 1991, when it began operations as Paktel under Cable & Wireless. It was the first company in Pakistan to be granted a free license for cellular phone services.
In 2007, Millicom International Cellular S.A. sold its majority stake in Paktel to China Mobile...