USMAN CHEEMA
 ISLAMABAD  - Zong, the only cellular company that won 4G along with 3G, has decided not to avail the option of paying licence fee in installments and has decided to make the whole payment of $516 million in one go.
China Mobile (Zong) has won two licences, 3G in 2100 MHz band and 4G in 1800 MHz band, 10 MHz in each band. Company has bought 3G lisence for $306 million and 4G licence against $210 million. Government had given the opportunity to all companies to deposit 50 per cent upfront and the remaining could be paid in 5 installments in 5 years but the said company has decided to make the whole payment upfront. “We are going to make the whole payment of more than $500 million. We have decided to pay in dollars instead of Pak rupees”, Chief Executive Officer, Zong Dr Fan Yunjun, said while addressing a news conference here on Tuesday. He also termed it a demonstration of friendship between Pakistan and China.
Dr Fan Yunjun also said that the company was going to launch 3G services very soon in the country. During the press briefing he also gave a video presentation on the difference between 3G and 4G.
Dr Zong also said that with the penetration of only 10 per cent broadband, GDP will grow by 1.4 per cent additionally. The voice communication, he said, has been increasing in Pakistan and Zong’s customer base increased from 10 million in 2011 to 25 million till March 2014.
“Now we will support digital society in Pakistan,” he said and added that the 3G and 4G services would benefit banking sector, transportation, security and many other sectors of the economy by putting in place value addition to maximise growth. On the subject of affordability of 3G and 4G services, he said, “Zong has already introduced the cheapest tariff for calls and internet services and in the future it will come up with more option to cater the needs of subscribers and to attract more customers”. Regarding improving services in Pakistan, he said that there was still need for bringing improvement in services. “We are improving our network and things will further improve in this regard,” he added.