Pakistan telecom sector earns Rs. 452 billion in FY 2015-16
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ISLAMABAD, Oct 9 (APP): Telecom sector total revenues reached Rs. 452.8 billion during year 2015-16, slightly up from 446.2 billion reported during previous year.
Telecom sector grew by less than 2 per cent during the year, mainly due to decline in LDI revenues after dismissal of ICH, increased competition and stagnant growth in voice revenues, data for telecom sector revenues issued by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said.
Mobile phone operators generated a total of
Rs. 348.83 billion in revenues during 2015-16, up from
Rs. 317.02 billion during same period last year.
Long Distance International (LDI) operators made
Rs. 23 million during 2015-16, down from Rs. 80.81 million
that they had generated an year ago. This sharp decline in
LDI revenues is mainly due to withdrawal of International
Clearing House (ICH), a drive that allowed long distance
and international operators to fix international incoming
call prices at higher rates.
Local loop operators showed Rs. 76.415 million in
revenues during the reported period, almost double of
Rs. 40.765 million that had generated an year ago.
Class Value Added Services showed remarkable growth
and generated Rs. 43 million in revenues, up from just
Rs. 3.78 million revenues a year ago.
With regard to telecom sector contribution to national
exchequer, the data said GST collection by telecom operators
stood at Rs. 41.65 billion, down from 45.8 billion an year
ago.
This GST collection from telecom operators once touched
Rs. 60.1 billion in 2013-14, but has been declining ever
since.
PTA's deposits during the report period stood at
Rs. 34 billion, up from Rs. 7 billion a year ago.
Total funds collected from telecom sector stood at
Rs. 157.85 billion, up from 126.3 billion a year ago. Major
contributor for increase in telecom's contribution towards
national exchequer include proceeds from spectrum fee that
PTA received from telecom operators.
