Telenor will invest Over $1 billion in Pakistan 3G

Telenor Pakistan has disclosed it want to invest Usd 1 billion in Pakistan, incorporating the permit expense, in the wake of gaining 3G service in Pakistan.

Telenor will put an additional Usd 700 million in the nation to extend its 3g system over the nation, said Jon Fredrik Baksaas, President and Ceo of Telenor Group throughout a gathering with a media designation from Pakistan going by Telenor’s headquarter.

Mr. Baksaas said that third era telecom administrations (3g or 4g) are to a great degree vital for a nation such as Pakistan as it won’t just stipulate the industry patterns yet will come about into higher web entrance and expanded Gdp of the nation. He said that 3g or 4g administrations are liable to effect rustic life more than in the urban ranges.

The point when wanted exhortation from Mr. Baksaas observing the upcoming 3g permit closeout, Mr. Baksaas said that Pakistani government might as well support an offset between upfront closeout expense and the capability and readiness of the industry to manufacture quality 3G Network in Pakistan. Giving the illustration of India, Mr Baksaas reminded that Indian drivers continued battling for 3g rollouts in light of the fact that they had put excessively in the range expenses and were left with small choices for the system layout.

Mr. Baksaas said that Pakistan saw much higher development in accomplishing infiltration for versatile telephony as contrasted and different markets, India for instance. Be that as it may, he concurred that true entrance level might be lower in view of clients having numerous Sims indicating that there is still a considerable measure of potential in the Pakistani business. He said a comparative pattern is normal after the sale of 3g permit. Citing the illustration of Thailand, Mr. Baksaas said that postponed closeout in 3g has made colossal potential and it is likely that development rate for 3g memberships are to remain higher in Pakistan than other provincial markets.

Fredrik Baksaas said that Telenor assembly is satisfied with the new strategies received by the controller for confirmation of Sims. He said that each nation has its particular approach to how they set up their administrative schema for the industry for realizing different targets and objectives. Mr. Baksaas said that check of Sims is a regular practice and is followed in just about each business sector much the same as Pakistan.

Notwithstanding, Mr. Baksaas said, the Telenor Group and shareholders are worried about the thought of closing down the administrations because of security explanations. Mr. Baksaas said that legislature authorities may as well investigate better and more profitable choices of decreasing security dangers than closing down the administrations.

According to an inquiry regarding high assesses on telecom benefits in Pakistan, Mr. Baksaas said that different markets – incorporating Thailand, Sweden, Norway and others – have a tendency to expense the telecom business due to its higher income streams, be that as it may, if these duties, tolls and obligations go past a certain level then it diminishes the capacity of industry to put go into new advances. He said that legislatures ought to be exceptionally watchful in indicating duty rates with the intention that both the assessment targets and industry muscles aren’t affected.

Telenor said that it has put over Usd 2.3 billion in Pakistani advertise in this way.

Mr. Baksaas, when asked that for what valid reason Telenor never selected a Pakistani as Ceo of Telenor Pakistan, said that aggregation has two Non-Scandevnians as Ceos of their separate nations implying that there are risks of a Pakistani to turn into a Ceo besides.

Leadership Crisis Witnessed at National ICT R&D Fund

Apathy of the government along with mismanagement of the Board of Directors is continued at National ICT R&D Fund for the last one year as the operations of this organization has been seriously impacted and its projects and programs are standstill.

Some of key reasons informed sources to Telecom Recorder on condition of anonymity are non-availability of a regular full-time CEO since June 2012 when Dr. Aun Abbas resigned due to undue pressures from the then Secretary IT (Farooq Awan).

The GM Coordination (Muhammad Ahmed) was then nominated by Farooq Awan to be the interim CEO knowing well enough that he has a poor track record. Apparently this was done to get things done the way according to the whims of Farooq Awan from this Company. It is to be noted that Muhemmed Ahmed does not fulfill the required educational criteria and experience of being a GM, let alone a CEO for such an important organization.

Other issues include the presence of individuals in key positions who have been placed there without having the requisite clearances from their parent departments of possessing minimum educational qualifications or experience for their respective positions.

They include CFO (Sardar Azmat Shafi), Internal Auditor (Omar Safdar Sandhu), and Acting Company Secretary (Nelofar Arshad). The hiring process of all these individuals and their educational credentials and background are at best dubious.

This group of individuals along with silent support from some Board members seems to have hijacked the Company and blocked the hiring of a full-time CEO (Dr. Ashraf Masood) and Company Secretary. They have changed around the work procedures of the Company for their own and possibly certain others’ benefit, created unwanted bureaucracy along with delays. They have already started violating the laid down policies and procedures. Such malpractices are sure to bring a bad name to the Company if such practices are not stopped.

With so many top slots filled in this company by ill-intention cronies of previous government, it is high time that finally the newly elected democratic government looks into this matter, gets rid of these politically appointed individuals, cleans up the overall state of affairs in this Company and appoints highly qualified and well-reputed professionals on merit for key positions so this important asset of the country may play its role for advancement of ICT sector in the country.

The new government should also take a look into other organizations, associated with Ministry of IT & Telecom, as well where stories of politically motivated appointments in direct violation of any merit and procedures and abuse of power abound. The recent public announcements, by the newly elected government, related to hiring for key position in important organizations on merit only can only be considered to be a serious commitment to the citizens of this country once backed-up by specific, concrete, prompt, and just actions!