I’m going to be honest — I didn’t even know China Mobile operated in Pakistan (we don’t cover central Asia too often). But it does — via a subsidiary company branded “Zong” — and apparently the company has been enjoying impressive growth there recently. In the last nine months of 2011, its Pakistan subscribers increased by 8.6 million, making it one of the major telecom players in Pakistan. At present, the company is apparently gaining subscribers at a rate of more than 600,000 per month.
There are several reasons for China Mobile’s uptake. One is that with the proliferation of phones that can hold multiple SIM cards, many mobile phone users in Pakistan are choosing multiple carriers. The company has also been doing a big marketing push there, offering special deals and improved services. It has also built a number of new bases and service centers, even in rural areas.
China Mobile’s Zong still trails behind local market leaders like Mobilink, Telenor, and Ufone, but it appears to be catching up.
[C114 via Sina Tech]
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