Zong (mobile network)

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CMPak Limited
Zong
China Mobile Pakistan
FormerlyPaktel
TypeTelecommunication Operator
IndustryTelecommunications
Mobile Communications
Founded2008
HeadquartersIslamabad, Pakistan
Area served
Pakistan
Key people
Wang Hua (CEO)
ProductsMobile services
Data services
Mobile banking
Telephony
Blackberry solution
ParentChina Mobile
Websitewww.zong.com.pk

CMPak Limited[1][2] (Urdu: زونگ), doing business under brand name Zong, is a Pakistan based mobile data network operator, owned by the company China Mobile.

It is the first overseas setup of China Mobile through acquisition of a license from Millicom to operate a GSM network in Pakistan in 2008.[3] Zong is a 100% subsidiary of China Mobile.[4]

It is Pakistan's second largest GSM mobile service provider and third largest mobile service in terms of subscriber base of 42 million. With over 14,000 4G enabled sites across the county, it has a market share of 22% among cellular operators in the country.[5][6][7][8]

History[]

Zong commenced operations as Paktel by Cable & Wireless in 1991. It was the first company granted a free license to carry out cellular phone services in Pakistan. It carried out AMPS services until 2004, when the company launched GSM services.

In 2003, Millicom Corporation, who at that time were majority owners of Instaphone, bought Paktel from Cable & Wireless. Millicom installed a new management team headed by John Tumelty, former CEO of Instaphone, and Chief Financial Officer David Ordman.

On 22 January 2007, Millicom International Cellular S.A. stated that it would sell its 88.86 percent stake in Paktel Limited to China Mobile for $284 million, which includes the repayment of intercompany debt. The sale implies an enterprise value for Paktel of $460 million, Millicom said in its press release. Merrill Lynch advised China Mobile on the transaction.

On 4 May 2007, Paktel Limited was renamed to China Mobile Pakistan.[9] On May 16, 2007 China Mobile announced that it had increased its stake in CMPak to 100%.[10]

On 1 April 2008, Paktel was rebranded to Zong.[11]

Network[]

China Mobile Pakistan has invested more than US$2 billion so far to build up network infrastructure in Pakistan since 2008.[12] It will invest US$1 billion in next two to three year for next generation service roll-out.[13]

Zong has built the third largest cellular network in the country with over 10,000 base stations.[14] To go green, Zong has installed solar powered cell sites in various locations. It has country's largest solar power telecommunication network.[15][16]

Pakistan's first 4G operator

Its network base stations, microwave links, IT support and transmission towers are maintained and provided by ZTE Pakistan.[17]

Zong currently uses GSM, UMTS/HSPA+ and LTE technologies.

Radio frequency summary[]

Frequency Protocol Band Class Channel Width
900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G 7.6 MHz
1800 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G 1+1 MHz
2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSPA+ 1 3G 5 MHz / 10 MHz (depending on area)
1800 MHz LTE/LTE-A 3 4G 15 / 20 MHz (depending on area)
2100 MHz LTE/LTE-A 1 4G 10 MHz

Zong has refarmed 5 MHz of its 2100 MHz 3G spectrum for 4G. They are currently deploying (via carrier aggregation) 20 MHz of Band 3 (1800 MHz), and 10 MHz of Band 1 (2100 MHz) for LTE-A.

Next generation mobile services[]

On 23 April 2014, Pakistan concluded the auction for the next generation of mobile spectrum. Zong paid $516 million for a 10 MHz spectrum in the 2.1 GHz frequency range for 3G and a 10 MHz spectrum in the 1.8 GHz frequency range for 4G, making it Pakistan's first 3G and 4G operator.[13]

LTE Advanced (4G+)[]

Zong has 4G+ (LTE-A) coverage in all major cities of Pakistan. [18]

5G Testing[]

As of August 2019, Zong is the first of three mobile network operators in Pakistan to successfully conduct 5G trials.[19][20] In the trial, speeds of up to 1.14 GB/s were achieved. [21]

Number scheming[]

Zong uses the following numbering scheme:

+92 3 1 N1N2N3N4N5N6N7N8

Where, 92 is the ISD code for Pakistan and is required when dialing outside the country, 3 is the mobile access code, and 1 is the prefix for Zong allocated by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Omitting +92 would require 0 instead to represent local call, hence 031 is the general prefix and N1N2N3N4N5N6N7N8 is the subscriber number.

Zong Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH)[]

Zong plans to launch Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Broadband internet. Initially the service will only be available in select areas of Karachi.[22]

Marketing[]

Stores[]

Zong operates 22 customer service centres, 305 franchises, and 190,000 retail customer points nationwide.[23]

Slogans[]

Previous logo of Zong with slogan

Since launch China Mobile Pakistan run the advertising campaign for Zong with the tagline 'Say it all' (Urdu: سب کہہ دو). Now, China Mobile Pakistan run advertising for Zong with new tagline 'A NEW DREAM' (Urdu: ایک نیا خواب).

New logo of Zong with its new slogan

Products[]

Zong offers prepaid, postpaid, ladies, and youth plans. The postpaid, ladies, and youth plans are branded as bizXcess, Flutter, and Circle.[24][25][26] Moreover, it also offers data plans and branch-less banking.[27]

Partnership with Manchester United F.C.[]

In October 2011, ZONG signed a three-year partnership deal with the English football club Manchester United F.C.[28][29] The deal allowed the club's Pakistani fans to see all the goals scored, exclusive interviews, news, and behind-the-scenes access.[30] ZONG also made a television commercial featuring the Manchester United players Dimitar Berbatov, Rio Ferdinand, Darren Fletcher and Ashley Young playing street football with Pakistani children.[31]

In 2012, Zong sent 32 boys for a one-week training camp to Manchester United Soccer School in Abu Dhabi. 120 teams with maximum 16 players each were identified and trials were conducted in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad by a team of professional coaches. A total of three teams were formed in Karachi, two in Lahore, one each in Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad. The coaches then identified 32 boys to send to Abu Dhabi from these 8 teams.[32]

Awards[]

On 26 September 2013, the President of Pakistan honoured Zong as the fastest growing cellular network at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[33]

In 2016, Zong was declared the number 1 data network by the PTA.

Mobile banking[]

Timepey[]

Timepey is the mobile banking service offered by Zong in association with Askari Bank Limited.[34] Timepey lets users pay utility bills, transfer money to specified recipients anywhere in the country, deposit and withdraw cash and carry out account transfers.[35]

PayMax[]

Discontinuing Timepey in 2017, Zong relaunched its mobile financial services with a new brand "PayMax" in association with Askari Bank Limited. PayMax lets users pay utility bills, transfer money to specified recipients anywhere in the country, deposit and withdraw cash and carry out account transfers.

Bank of Punjab Partnership[]

The Bank of Punjab rolled out internet banking in partnership with Wateen and Zong for operations to be carried out over the internet.[36]

See also[]

  • List of mobile phone companies in Pakistan

References[]

  1. ^ "CMPAK LIMITED". opencorporates.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. ^ "China Mobile Pakistan Limited: Private Company Information". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  3. ^ "About ZONG". Zong Homepage.
  4. ^ "ZONG: CHINA MOBILE IN PAKISTAN". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Zong Achieves 25 Million Customers". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  6. ^ "ZONG manages to boost its growth to 34.1% during 2012". 4 January 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Mobile Phone Users in Pakistan Reach 136.5 Million". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  8. ^ "Telecom Indicators | PTA". www.pta.gov.pk. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Paktel renamed CMPak" (in Chinese). China Mobile Limited. Retrieved 11 December 2007.
  10. ^ "May 2007 Archived Press Clippings : LTC International, Telecom Headlines and Industry News". LTC International Inc. Retrieved 11 December 2007.
  11. ^ "China Mobile re-brands Paktel as Zong". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Zong ready to invest $ 0.6 million for LDI operations - Telecom Recorder". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Inflow: Zong to make licence payment in dollars". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  14. ^ "Cell locations rise in FY09-10". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  15. ^ "Zong Plans to Develop More Solar-Powered Cell Sites". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  16. ^ "China Mobile plans to develop solar-powered cell sites". The News International, Pakistan. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  17. ^ "Expansion Of Telecom Infrastructure In Pakistan: ZTE And CMPak In USD100 Million Base Station Deal". 4 December 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  18. ^ Coverage, Zong (2021). [nperf.com/en/map/PK/-/13743.Zong/signal/?ll=28.998531814051795&lg=71.01562500000001&zoom=5 "Zong Coverage Map (nPerf)"]. nPerf. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Pakistan becomes the first country in South East Asia to test 5G". The Nation. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  20. ^ Hussain, Javed (22 August 2019). "'Pakistan on short list of 5G-ready countries with Zong's successful trial'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  21. ^ Hussain, Javed (22 August 2019). "'Pakistan on short list of 5G-ready countries with Zong's successful trial'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  22. ^ Release, Press. "Zong 4G Announces Zong Fiber, Its Direct-to-Home Fiber Optic Internet Service". Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  23. ^ "Zong prize for franchises". The Nation. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  24. ^ "Zong Introduces Flutter, Ultimate Mobile Package for Ladies". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  25. ^ "Zong Launches Postpaid Service BizXcess". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  26. ^ "Zong Launches Youth Specific Offering: Circle". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  27. ^ "Breaking: Zong, Askari Bank Step Into Branchless Banking". Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  28. ^ "United welcome Zong". Manchester United. 25 October 2011.
  29. ^ "Manchester United signs partnership deal with Zong". Express Tribune. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  30. ^ "United, Zong sign three-year accord". Daily Times. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  31. ^ "Zong's Manchester United Ad". YouTube. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  32. ^ "Soccer training: Zong to send Pakistan youngsters to Abu Dhabi". Daily Times. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  33. ^ "Zong wins award". The News International, Pakistan. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  34. ^ "Askari Bank, Zong launch technology-based branchless banking". The News International, Pakistan. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  35. ^ "Askari Bank, Zong offer branchless banking services". The News International, Pakistan. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  36. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

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