ISLAMABAD: Mobile phone imports in Pakistan have increased by 15.86 % in first eleven months of fiscal year 2014-15 and reached US $ 653.808 million.
The mobile phone exports were US $ 564.293 million in same period last year.
As per figures issued by Pakistan Bureau of Statistic, on year on year and month on month basis, the mobile phone imports into the country increased by 20.72% and 3.27% as compared to imports in May 2014 and April 2015 respectively.
Phone imports during May 2015 were US $ 58.033 million as compared against imports of US $ 48.072 million in May 2014 and US $ 56.194 million in April 2015.
Overall telecom imports also saw increase of 10.37% during July to May 2014-15 as compared to same period last year. Total imports were recorded at US $ 1.265 billion as compared to US $ 1.146 billion in same period last year.
Similarly, on year on year and month on month basis, telecom imports during May 2015 decreased by 28.26 per cent and 21.23 percent when compared to April 2014 and May 2014 respectively.
Moreover, rapid development of 3G/4G infrastructure and rising demand of smartphone have hiked imports of telecom sector to reach a whooping total of Rs 75.81 billion or US $ 751 million during the period of July to December 2014, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics further informed.
Overall spending of telecom sector has increased to Rs. 75.81 billion which showed a growth of 21 percent as compared to same duration previous year.
The telecom equipments imported by telecom operators reached to Rs 40.747 billion or US $ 403.702 million, registering 33.15 percent growth from last year. The spending depicted a major share of cellular phone companies followed by broadband operators and enterprises technological solution providers who import data center and other tools etc.
The imports of mobile handsets increased to reach Rs 35.135 billion or US $ 347.559 million in period of July to December 2014, the figures said. The values are 9.9 percent higher than the last financial year.
Cellular phone operators are upgrading their networks on 3G and 4G technology on faster base exploring potential areas of major cities hence the imports of equipments will continue to increase in the months to come.
At present four operators have launched 3G services and two have introduced 4G services but their coverage is limited. This means more roll-outs in days to come and resultantly more imports.
