Devices & Platforms

ZTE to deliver affordable 5G devices to Pakistan’s Zong

ZTE to deliver affordable 5G devices to Pakistan’s Zong

China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak, a.k.a. Zong 4G) says it has signed an MoU with ZTE and its authorised local distributor Siccotel to deliver affordable 5G smartphones to Pakistan ahead of an anticipated 5G spectrum auction next month.

Under the MoU, which was signed last Wednesday, ZTE will introduce a range of entry-level and mid-to-high tier 5G smartphones, along with gaming-focused devices designed for high-performance users and the youth segment.

To encourage uptake, the partnership will also introduce Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes, enabling customers to access advanced smartphones through flexible payment options.

Zong said all devices will be offered at competitive market rates and bundled with its packages, including value-added services such as gaming, esports, entertainment, and data-focused offerings.

The device deal with ZTE comes as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) gets ready to kick off its long-awaited 5G spectrum auction.

According to a government directive published earlier this month, the PTA will auction 15 MHz of paired spectrum in the 700 MHz band and 50 MHz of unpaired spectrum in the 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands.

The base price for the bands ranges from US$650,000 per MHz for the 3500 band to US$14 million per MHz for the 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands. The auction is slated to take place February 26.

According to several media reports, operators are worried about the financial viability of rolling out 5G too quickly. The directive requires telcos to roll out 1,000 new sites per year and upgrade 10% of their existing towers to 5G in the first year. The directive also requires telcos to invest US$150 million to US$200 million annually, not including the spectrum fee.

Pakistan’s 5G auction has been delayed for years due to a variety of factors, to include waiting for the merger between PTCL and Telenor Pakistan to be completed, which finally came to pass at the start of this year.



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