This is the story in a nutshell:
In 2007, China Mobile acquired Paktel, the fifth largest mobile communications operator in Pakistan. Until now, it has invested up to US$860 million in Pakistan. This year, China Mobile plans to invest an additional US$800 million in Pakistan to enhance the communications network coverage and after-sales service there and to create ZONG into a top brand of the region.Why did it catch my attention? On paper China Mobile is the largest mobile telecom provider in the world, one of China's largest state-owned companies, but up to now all its efforts to start a substantial operation outside China itself seemed to have ended in a disaster. Of course, it does not mean that its Pakistan-operation is already heading for a success, but it for sure is an operation to watch.
The operator has already secured 375,000 new subscribers in January, putting it second in the market in terms of growth and competing with players like Mobiling, Telenor, Warid and Ufone.
Well, up to now at least and interesting enough this is the first time the deal showed up on my radar. Reason enough to add Golden China Brands on my rss-reader.
Update: Hey, and then they had Shaun Rein too in a podcast, one of the more famous speakers at Chinabiz Speakers.
Update: Meanwhile I have joined the China Speakers Bureau as a principal partner. You will find our celebrity speakers now at their new home.
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My understanding is that the extra money China Mobile is putting in is not the result of some grand plan to expand in Pakistan, but of a realisation that they'd been sold a highly deffective product that needed a lot of work to get it in order. In short it's yet another example of a Chinese effort to expand abroad that's been troubled - although not to deny that it might still have long term potential
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