Internet use rose 25pc during pandemic-induced lockdowns

 

ISLAMABAD: There seems to be a shift in consumer behaviour from voice to data usage and therefore the telecom sector may require cost-cutting measures in infrastructure and meet the growing demand of the web . More submarine cable companies may soon enter the Pakistani market.

These views are expressed by Edotco Pakistan’s director Arif Hussain.

Talking to media, he said that recent lockdowns and therefore the Covid-19 pandemic had exposed the necessity for reliance on data and internet use, which had increased by 25 per cent whereas the revenues from the voice traffic declined by around 10pc.

Mr Hussain said the year 2020 had been a year of learning for the telecom sector. It created new opportunities for providing better services in existing network areas.

Edotco may be a multinational company that gives integrated telecommunications infrastructure services like sharing of telecom infrastructure and maintaining it as a 3rd party. Edotco has worked with all the four telecom operators of the country.

As the demand for internet use grows rapidly within the country, there are two existing submarine cables while the infrastructure development continues for the third cable that's expected to return online by 2021. A fourth company is getting to bring a submarine cable with its landing station in Gwadar. it'll line the coastal highway to Karachi.

Official sees more submarine cable firms entering local market

According to Mr Hussain, there'll be a significant competition in internet prices which can eventually benefit users. But, he added, the ISPs needed to adopt cost-cutting measures mainly in non-technical fields.

According to official data, around 25pc of the population which is on the brink of 50 million people don't have access to basic telephonic services, and therefore the government is getting to provide access to telecom network along side internet services across Pakistan.

While Mr Hussain is of the view that the utilization of broadband services isn't just reserved for entertainment programmes or corporate works for the elite, the industry has realised within the postpandemic scenario that folks have significant data needs therefore the next stage should be about improving coverage.

He mentioned various social media platforms which are watched by even workmen to enhance their skills, and an outsized number of housewives have launched micro-level businesses at such platforms.

“Since these people, including the plumbers etc, are earning from the web , they're willing to buy it too,” he said.

At an equivalent time, he suggested, the longer term of the telecom sector is in reducing cost in various fields like adopting the tower and other infrastructure sharing models.

“The shareable infrastructure could reduce cost also because the operating expenditure for telcos and would allow them to penetrate into wider markets, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and erstwhile Fata.”

He expressed the arrogance that auction unsold 1,800 and 2,100 MHz band spectrum would help expand 3G and 4G services, and eventually 4G subscribers would increase.