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for telecom growth. The BMI rankings take into account a number of factors including industry situation, growth potential, competitive landscape and economy and political risks etc. The sudden growth in subscriber base in Pakistan has caused network congestion and service quality problems. The major operators are responding to this problem by upgrading their networks. These multibillion dollar improvements, along with a regulatory effort to introduce Mobile Number Portability (MNP) next year, should maintain the stiff competition in Pakistan mobile market.

Pakistan is still an unsaturated market and with the falling cost of handsets there are plenty of new subscribers to compete for, especially in the rural areas. But eventually, as in saturated markets, if mobile operators want to avoid simply competing on price, they will have to compete on superior service, innovative features and ease-of-use. As an example of new trends there were so many text messages (SMS) sent on this Eid that the networks of all 6 companies were kept extremely busy!

Pakistan has also had some strategic wins in the international telecommunication scene. This month Pakistan won the council seat of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) were elected as member of Radio Regulation Board of ITU. Pakistan also holds the office of President in Asia Pacific Telecommunity. ITU has also announced that it will setup a Center of Excellence in Pakistan for telecommunication regulation and policy.

There is still a long way to go for Pakistan telecom industry. Pakistan needs to increase telecom research and development work within the country. China and India are in the process of becoming world’s major R&D centers for technology and telecommunication. Two top Chinese telecom equipment firms have announced their plans to collaborate with Pakistan: Huawei is working with UET Lahore and ZTE will setup R&D center in Islamabad. The goal of the policy makers should be to increase the rate of transfer of technology from abroad, broaden the pool of local skilled workforce and accelerate the local production of telecom equipment and handset parts etc.

At the top of the list of Pakistani mobile companies is Mobilink, the Pakistani unit of Egypt-based telecom company Orascom. It has been in Pakistan since 1994. With 20 million subscribers it has the largest market share. Its shares are listed on the Egyptian and London stock markets (OTLD).

Ufone, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pakistan Telecommunication Co. Ltd (PTCL), is now under the control of Etisalat group of UAE. With 8.8 million subscribers it is the runner up. For those in Pakistan it is the one company where they can easily invest locally.

In third place is Warid, owned by the Abu Dhabi group of the United Arab Emirates and sister of Wateen group. With 5.9 million subscribers it controls 14% market of subscribers.

Norway Telenor, a recent entrant with about a billion US dollar invesment in Pakistan has been doing well, based on its recent earning report. It has about 4.6 million subscribers or 11% of the market. Telenor stock is listed in the Oslo stock market (TEL) and Nasdaq NY (TELN).

Paktel and Instaphone now owned by China Mobile Company (ZONG). It has 2.7% market share. One sign of the growth burst of the sector in Pakistan and its self-