Archive for June 26th, 2007

SingTel To buy stake in Pakistan’s Warid

Published by Babar Bhatti on June 26, 2007 under Companies, Investment, Mobile Companies, Telecommunications

The deal is not final yet but all the news sources have mentioned SingTel as the most likely winner for a stake in Warid, owned by Abu Dhabi Group. Here’s the report from Financial Times. See my last post on this for background. My views on the red hot acquistions market in Pakistan will follow.

Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI: Quote, Profile, Research) is likely to buy a 30 percent stake in Warid Telecom in a deal that would value Pakistan’s third-largest mobile phone operator at $1 billion, the Financial Times reported.

Industry sources told Reuters last month that Warid had been approached by several international telecommunications firms and that an agreement could be reached in July or August. SingTel has repeatedly said it was interested in Pakistan’s fast-growing mobile phone sector.

Top Reasons for Selecting a Mobile Provider in Pakistan

Published by Babar Bhatti on June 26, 2007 under Competitive Trends, Digital Divide, Emerging Markets Telecom, Mobile Companies, Mobile Trends, Telecommunications, Wireless

This post continues the discussion of research results from Pakistan’s mobile market. In another interesting study (based on a sample size of 1812, ages 18-60, lower income groups) from LIRNEAsia mobile phone users were asked the main reasons for selecting their primary mobile company. The study clearly shows that coverage is more important in rural areas, tariff is less important. Here’s the comparison of urban and rural trends. (See a larger resoultion image).

Of course whoever gets to rural areas has an advantage. Also see my previous story on how Pakistanis prefer style over features.