Paktel has been in the news recently. Its European parent company Millicom has decided to exit Pakistan and the fate of its assets and employees is unclear. This presents a test case for PTA – can it handle the difficult task of protecting investors, subscribers, employees and ensure continuity of Paktel operations?
Till now Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) has been enjoying the rewards of foreign direct investment and the telecom growth. For the first time now it has to deal with the messy part. A lot hinges on this. Millicom owes PTA money (US$ 29 Million) for the spectrum licence it bought in 2004. The way this dispute is handled will become a guideline for other telecom companies. It so happens that PTA has it hands full because of another nasty dispute with PTCL over bandwidth tariffs.
There have been speculations on this topic in the industry. Many have commented and voiced their opinions and concerns as well – see TM’s post on this. There have been many rumours in the media about Paktel’s future but no official word as of this writing.
It was reported that China Telecom may buy Paktel from Millicom. A brief note in The News states: Paktel, the first cellular company of Pakistan, is in negotiations with China’s famous ‘China Telecom’ for its sale. Paktel’s higher official told ‘The News’ that Millicom and China Telecom have reached an understanding on Paktel’s sale, further details will be announced in the next few days. China Telecom has shown great interest in Paktel and now only final meeting is being held to conclude the deal.
Separately a PTA spokesman provided the following comments which appeared in The News:
“There is a proper Cellular Mobile Policy, which defines each and every situation,” said the PTA official. “The situation, which is most likely to surface, is that Paktel may shut down its business or sell this out to someone but in both cases the PTA accounts must be cleared.”
He said the high-ups of Paktel and the PTA had a series of meetings to resolve the fee installment issue but the two sides failed to reach any agreement because of too many allowances demanded by the company.
It seems that it will take some more time for all these negotiations to come to some conclusion. China Telecom’s entry to Pakistan will be a very interesting event. It will be a tough decision for China Telecom administration to justify the acquistion and its associated cost. Any negative vibrations from this case will have repercussions for Pakistan’s nascent telecom industry. PTA should make sure that it takes a flexible stance and makes a wise decision.
37 comments
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December 12, 2006 at 6:47 am
alias
I doubt that most people will stick with Paktel now. I was one of its first users back when it launched its GSM service, but now everyone I know, including myself, have dumped Paktel for Warid. The call rate is less than half and the service quality is so much better. At least SMS don’t arrive the next day.
December 12, 2006 at 9:52 am
Babar Bhatti
I agree. After mobile number portability more people will switch. Thats why it will be initially hard for whichever company buys Paktel.
December 14, 2006 at 1:16 am
shayan
I really enjoy the paktel talk free package & I hope new company(china telecom )will continue it.
December 14, 2006 at 6:28 am
Jaffar
I am the very first user of paktel,I enjoyed it’s all the packages offered by them time to time like paktel 1st time introduce local call,International calls on local rates,missed call allerst,E-billing,Incoming Bounce,Balance Share,Paktel is actually innovators.
December 14, 2006 at 7:02 am
shayan
Paktel Is number company
December 14, 2006 at 7:10 am
shayan
I enjoyed all the services of paktel
December 14, 2006 at 7:11 am
shayan
Other companies have very huge threat from new investor.
December 15, 2006 at 12:08 am
shayan
Now at this time other cellular companies are trying to take benefits on nonprofessional manners , as warid ,mobilink ,ufone are calling to paktel customers that company have been wind up their activities from pakistan & you can get same number with some extra balance.
December 18, 2006 at 12:59 am
Babar Bhatti
Thanks for all the comments, Paktel is a valuable asset and I hope that it gets a good management. From recent news I see that Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications is considering bidding for Paktel. Lets keep our fingers crossed.
December 20, 2006 at 10:10 am
MANAN
i m very happy that china take this company , i m a franchiser and i m not happy from millicom company , hope china will good company for business
December 21, 2006 at 12:04 am
shoukat
i will very happy if china telecom take paktel from millicom because paktel is 1st cellular company of pakistan but not know how to doing business & can not doing compitition with other cellular compinies
December 21, 2006 at 7:35 am
Irfan Nazar
Paktel always offered unique packages e.g. the talk free package. It is very much popular in young ones. We hope China Telecom will not only continue it but also will enhance that package to 24 hours.
January 3, 2007 at 9:37 am
don
Paktel have been the innovators. still offering services that no other company provides.. for example, Ring back tones quality is impressive, e-billing is provided by no other company, recent talk free package and double balance package is impressive, first company to lower international call rates etc..
January 12, 2007 at 2:56 am
Safeer
I am editor of an Urdu magazine that informs and educates consumers in Pakistan. I was thinking of developing a club of Mobile Users – a forum where mobile users can share their experiences and problems and devise strategies to pressurize companies into adopting consumer friendly policies. This blog is a very good place. Am happy to have visited this place.
January 16, 2007 at 1:10 am
Waqas
Kindly tell me that is there any gsm lines launched in Pakistan in future???????
I am wating for your reply!!!
Thanks
January 17, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Babar Bhatti
From the comments I see that Paktel has many loyal customers. With the introduction of mobile number portability MTC of Kuwait (or whichever company acquires Paktel) will have an opportunity to improve Paktel’s subscriber numbers – perhaps through new service offerings or reduced prices.
January 17, 2007 at 5:32 pm
mahmood ahmad
paktel is company But?
1 not good coverage
2 no friends and family
3 day time rate is tomuch rs 3:00 mint
4 paktel to paktel rate is tomuch Rs 3:00 mint
best code is 0303 or 0330
dont like code is 0304
friends and family rate is paktel to pktel only 0:60 pisa mint 2 paktel to paktel rate is 1:25 mint 3 other network rate is only is 2:00 mint
best paktel talk free package but rs 700 for 24 hars and rs 500 is 12:00 am to 6:00 pm
rs 175 for 7 days 24 hars , rs 150/ 7 days 12:00am to 6:00pm
best comment paktel to paktel 1 one 24 hars free
only Rs 150 month and 2ds no for only Rs 100 Month , and more no for rs 50/
paktel easyload Rs 10 to Rs 1500/
your and paktel friend mahmood ahmad
my mobile no is +92 304 4076234 and +92 345 5458787 think you
January 19, 2007 at 12:58 am
cool
The news are that the china telecom has won the bid for paktel. Now as we know that the china telecom is the largest operator of the world, so its a great great news for paktel and its users…..Future looks great for paktel!
January 21, 2007 at 1:52 pm
03045466721
i am user of paktel
and i like service of paktel
and i think of china telecome
my number is 03045466721
January 22, 2007 at 10:33 am
Babar Bhatti
Good news: China Mobile takes Paktel ..
February 24, 2007 at 11:20 am
asif usman
proud of you china tele com. i likes chines and his country. i realy injon freepackig. my number 03049356777.
March 18, 2007 at 6:50 am
waqas ahmed
A.A.
It is very good news that China company take the ownership of paktel. When I heard this news, I decided that I should have to get Paktel number.
March 18, 2007 at 6:51 am
nooman
bad company
March 27, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Shuja Khan
This company is a shit. Atleast for me. Iam one of its very first costumer when it launched gsm service after buying there connection and start using there service, believe me i canot get signals bars more than three on nokia 1100 and even no coverage in my area in karachi manzoor colony i cannot even make or recieve calls when iam at home. There is that much noice sometime i feel i will gonna have brain tumer. And i canot even have a call more than a minute. Believe me two years have been past the problem is same like the day one and even tonight. I have also called several times on there service centre but no use and like always they gave me simple answer to my question “sorry sir we are upgrading our network” my foot. I have used paktel in islamabad and service was very good like all others. But in lahore same as karachi . Now tell me who says it is a good company. And also suggest what should i do.
March 27, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Shuja Khan
And yeh let me mention why iam still using its service only becuase of there talk free package. This is the only reason.
BTW i have all conections.
April 11, 2007 at 5:43 am
nasir
please give me bio data paktel job as a call center agent
April 14, 2007 at 12:05 pm
NASEM.F
hello.
and i like the paktel so much ,
and i hope that if china take this company so it will be so better than millicom .we hope it will be done .
May 3, 2007 at 3:26 am
Umair Shah
what can u say abt paktel, i had a platinum number 5341111, as i was away for studies in dubai, my sim was obviously not under use, and when i came back, to my dismay, my no was finished. d reason given was tht my sim was not in use for two months Absloutely rubbish company!
May 14, 2007 at 6:20 am
Imran Baig
paktel is grown upnow.
paktel getting batter
there is one problam that paktel,s
oppreators or service centre officers r not
sufasticatetd parson thay dontknow how talk his costumar.
June 26, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Waqas khan
Using Paktel i mean zong with some good and more growing features… Especially free night and free net connectivity…. Beated every one… 3 rupees/day for unlimited messages… And much more… Easy load… Coverage… But one problem that network is same and IVR is same”mak kijay, ap k saraf ki phati hoi hia”, mafi network. Still rubbish anti voice and mafi statements… Anyhow let hope for better…
July 6, 2008 at 9:21 am
Sher dil khan jadoon
Slaam! Sab dosto ko slaam. Mujhy 500rs month 18 hour wali sim chayah zong pakitan ki sab say bari sailolar compny. 03142336508
07 jul 2008
July 6, 2008 at 9:25 am
Sher dil khan jadoon
Slaam! Sab dosto ko slaam. Mujhy 500rs month 18 hour wali sim chayah zong pakistan ki sab say bari sailolar compny. My no 03142336508
07 jul 2008
July 6, 2008 at 9:30 am
Sher dil khan jadoon
Slaam! Sab dosto ko slaam. Mujhy paktel ki 500rs month 18 hour wali sim chayah zong pakistan ki sab say bari sailolar compny. My no 03142336508
07 jul 2008
July 10, 2008 at 1:55 am
Rizwan Ahmed
good
October 11, 2008 at 2:35 am
Tanweer Ashraf
We are pleased to introduce ourselves a trusted and reliable name in Clearing Forwarding & Shipping Business since last twenty years. We are in this business and have reputable name in customs, KPT and mostly Importer and Exporter is also known to us.
Our staffs are qualified and have vast knowledge or Clearing and Forwarding jobs with their experience. It will be our great pleasure to serve your company and trusting that you will provide us to handle your Import and Export works and handling consignment with precision and great care, working with most economical rate.
In line with the discussion with you, we propose our clearance service charges to you as follows:
• CKD, Spare parts and Machinery 0.40 % paisa for import invoice value
• If any document of AFU less than 650,000 clearing charge of Rs.2,500/=
Note: Cartage and Receipted Amount Paid by Importer.
We give our full assurance that your work would perform by us smoothly. We provide every conceivable service which an Importer & Exporter may desire. For any assistance please feel free to contact us without any hesitance.
Thanking You.
Yours truly
SIDDIQUI ENTERPRISES
September 13, 2010 at 7:11 pm
hellodrsoul
hmm,reading a three year old post carry me back to that old era.paktel was a superb company and I miss their free package alot.even in this environment of crunchy competition,no company can bring that flexible package back.
Sweet momories of past,why I live in past…
April 29, 2013 at 12:58 pm
sarwar wazir
what are the main reasons of pakt
el become zong?