Out of total country’s population of 170 million, total cellphone subscriber base till January 2010 stands at 95 million. - File photo
KARACHI: As the official import of cellular phones surged 39.5 per cent in July-February 2009-10, the arrival of low-end mobile sets costing around $40 holds 80-85 per cent share in the total imports.The country imported $177.7 million of mobile phone sets during the period under review as compared to $127.3 million in the same period last fiscal year, revealed data released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS).
Cellphone imports in February 2010 stood at $25 million as compared to $4 million in February 2009.
The medium-range sets starting from $45 to $100 maximum enjoyed 15 per cent share while the upper medium range (above $100 to $150) four per cent share in total imports of cellphones.
Director and Chief Operating Officer of United Mobile Azad Lalani told Dawn on Wednesday that the increasing competition among cellular service providers, slight declining trend in call rates and late night packages had lured many people to have a cellphone.
He said the cellular service networks had expanded sharply in the rural areas resulting in higher demand for cellphones.
The government has also reduced the duty on import of cellphones to Rs250. Besides, the prices of cellphone sets in the world markets have also declined.
There are also reports of smuggling of cellphones despite the duty cut, he said and added that Chinese duplicate or imitate sets of branded phones were arriving in through illegal channels.
But dealers did not offer any warranty, after sales service and quality on Chinese sets as being offered by distributors of branded sets, he pointed out.
Out of total country’s population of 170 million, total cellphone subscriber base till January 2010 stands at 95 million.
According to figures of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in 2006, 34 million people were using mobile phones which grew to 63 million in 2007 and 88 million in 2008 and 94 million in 2009.Azad said the bulk of mobile sets were now arriving from China since all leading cellphone makers had set up their plants in China.
Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/business/13+cellphone-imports-up-39.5pc-in-julyfeb-530-za-02
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