ISLAMABAD: The telecom giant China Mobile’s subsidiary in Pakistan, Zong, has emerged as the leader in solar cell sites by converting 150 cell sites on solar power.
According to industry sources, the company has opted for the solar power keeping in view the persistent energy crisis in the country as well as the immense opportunities to generate efficient energy from the sun. Zong currently has the largest solar-powered telecommunication network in Pakistan with over 150 cell sites installed at various locations through out the country.
The company’s network has been extended to the mountain tops of Ishkoman in Gilgit-Baltistan to the rocky plains of Buleda in Balochistan. Zong is one of the fastest growing cellular networks in Pakistan, with a 500 percent growth in terms of the number of cell locations during the last three years.
The CEO of China Mobile Pakistan Qian Li said in a statement that Zong has over 5,600 cell sites in Pakistan. He maintained that the country has a huge market, full of opportunities for foreign investors, as it offers equal level playing fields for both foreign and domestic investors.
ZONG entered the Pakistani market with an aggressive network expansion strategy and has continued to spread its coverage rapidly across the country. “We truly believe that expansion to attain critical mass is a key to gaining a competitive edge for our services in the still developing Pakistani market”, said Qian.
The brotherly relations between China and Pakistan have become legendary and this is visible not just between the two governments but also between the people of these two countries”, Qian Li said adding that the recent visit of Chinese Premier would help bring in more Chinese investors to Pakistan.
ZONG has so far invested $1.6 billion in Pakistan. The company has generated more than 1700 direct and over 40,000 indirect jobs in the country. This investment has been made in less than two years since its launch and China Mobile is expected to invest more in Pakistan in the years to come, as a part of company’s future investment plans.
