Mobilink

Mobilink (PMCL) Ltd.
Native name
 موبی لنک
Formerly called
 Jazz, Indigo
Public Limited Company
Industry Telecommunication
Genre Subsidiary
Founded June 11, 1994[1]
Founder Saif Group[2] and Motorola
Headquarters Islamabad[3], Pakistan
Area served
 More than 20000 cities, towns, and villages across Pakistan[4]
Key people
 Jeffrey Hedberg
(President and CEO)
Products Mobile Telephony, WiMAX, VoIP, DSL, PCO and Mobile Banking[5]
Revenue $1.1 billion
Number of employees
 8500
Parent VimpelCom Ltd.
Slogan Har Dil. Har Din.
Website www.mobilink.com.pk

Mobilink (Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited or PMCL) (Urdu: موبی لنک) the first GSM based cellular operator in South Asia,[6] operates the leading GSM network in Pakistan and provides a range of prepaid and postpaid voice and data telecommunication services to both individual and corporate subscribers. It employs about 8500+ people across Pakistan, and has served more than 38.1 million customers as of March 31, 2014.[7] Its head office is in Islamabad, and the current President and CEO is Jeffrey Hedberg.

History

Mobilink, registered by the decision of P-00664 of 1990 or CUIN 0022993 (Both active & valid) on December 27, 1990. It started operations in 1994 as the first GSM cellular mobile service in Pakistan with a joint venture by Saif Group and Motorola Inc., who later sold it to Orascom Telecom, an Egypt-based multinational company and then they also further sold it to Vimpelcom Group, a Russian Company.

It initiated its network modernization project in May 2013 and more than 70% of the network has already been revamped with 3G-enabled equipment.[8]

The Orascom group, who formally owned Mobilink has a major share in TWA (Transworld Associates) which operates an undersea fiber-optic cable from Karachi, Pakistan, to Fujairah, UAE.[8] As of June 2010, Mobilink had issued two listed bonds valued at PKR 30.2 billion and PKR 60 billion.

Re-branding

As part of Orascom-Vimplecom deal all Orascom operations were bound to re-brand in all operating markets. Just like Orascom had announced to rebrand itself to become Global Telecom Holding in late 2012, inline with the outcome of the deal, Mobilink has reshaped itself along with changing the architecture of its brands.[9]

Mobilink 3rd Generation

Mobilink won 10Mhz block for 3rd Generation spectrum on 23 April 2014 and has launched its 3G services in major cities of Pakistan. Mobilink has announced that it will complete the roll out of country’s largest 3G ready network with more than 9,000 cell sites across Pakistan by July 2014. Mobilink has the largest market share in Pakistani market today, and its 3G subscriber base will be the largest in the country.[8]

Data Devices

Mobilink introduced the 3G enabled Data Devices in Pakistan, for high speed internet reaching up to 7.1 Mbit/s.[10]`

Expansion

After its initial 3G launch in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, and Faisalabad, Mobilink has expanded its 3G availability in different cities across Pakistan. Currently 3G services are available in 37 cities.

Subsidiaries, joint ventures and holdings

Mobilink is a communications access provider offering customers access through different channels. The four key platforms Orange operates are:

  1. Mobile Phone Telephony
  2. Broadband access
  3. Internet
  4. Mobile Banking

Mobilink (PMCL) acquired and merged the different external or internal divisions managing each platform and now all operate under the different brands.

Mobicash

Mobilink has partnered with Waseela Microfinance Bank to mark its entry into the branch-less banking segment. With Mobicash, customers have access to the simplest way to conduct their financial transactions, related to paying bills, sending/receiving money within Pakistan, purchasing top ups for their cell phones (Pre-paid).[11]

LinkdotNet

LINkdotNET (an Orascom Subsidiary) commenced its operation in Pakistan by acquiring two already existing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) named as World Online (WOL) Telecom Limited and Dancom Online. LINKdotNET merged the resources of these two companies and by putting in more investment launched its operations officially on 2 February 2008. It was offering its services in more than 130 cities in Pakistan and in two years this company raised its customer base up to 35,000. LINKdotNET provided services for both home and commercial users and was the second largest broadband service provider in Pakistan after PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication Limited).[12]

Mobilink Infinity (WiMAX Division)

Under the brand name of Infinity Mobilink had started its WiMAX services in major cities of Pakistan.

Orascom took over the management

Despite of having the 26% of Mobilink GSM business share, in April 2001, Orascom (GTH) took over management control of the company. As the market leader, Mobilink serves approximately 38.1 million customers and has a 28% market share (as of March 31, 2014).[13]

Orascom's acquisition of Mobilink

On March 30, 2000 Mobilink was 26% acquired by Orascom Telecom (now Global Telecom Holding), telecoms company. Orascom has mobile telephony holdings in a number of countries in Africa and the Middle East.[14]

Governance

President and CEO

Management

Names Positions Department
Agha Mohammad Qasim Vice President Corporate Affairs
Ahmed Hussain Suleman Chief Strategy Officer OSM
Azfar Manzoor Vice President Business Sales Development
Bilal Munir Sheikh Chief Commercial Officer Technology
Gabriele Sgariglia Chief Technology Officer Technology
Ghazanfar Azzam Vice President
Andrew Kemp Chief Financial Officer Finance
Sadia Ahmad Vice President Human Resources & Administration

Mobilink Foundation

The Mobilink Foundation is a registered non-profit organization, which provides support for the local community not only financially but also through dedicated volunteer hours. Being a philanthropic[15] organization, it is purely based on employee volunteerism. No administrative costs or overheads are incurred by the organization and therefore, every single penny that is donated to Mobilink Foundation goes directly into making a difference on ground.

Tourchbearers

The Mobilink Foundation Torchbearers clock an average of 4 to 5 dedicated hours per person per month during official working hours. On average the volunteers spent more than 4,500 hours in 2013 in community service initiatives.[16]

Awards & Recognition

Ethical Corporate Award 2014

Mobilink, in a joint entry with VimpelCom has won the Ethical Corporate Award 2014 in the category of “Most Effective International Community Investment” for its m-Literacy Program. The awards were organized by internationally renowned Ethical Corporation that serves CSR,[17]

GSMA's Global Mobile Award

The GSMA's Global Mobile Awards 2013 recognized Mobilink Foundation's efforts in education by selecting the 'SMS Based Literacy' program as the winner of the inaugural Connected Life Awards. The program was deemed to be the Best Mobile Education or Learning Product or Service.

Green Office Certification – World Wide Fund for Nature

Mobilink qualified for the WWF's Environmental Audit to become the first and the only certified telecom operator in Pakistan to have received the Green Office Certification from WWF.

Shaukat Khanum Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Mobilink Foundation was the recipient of Shaukat Khanum's Social Responsibility Award for Top Contributing Corporate. The award acknowledged the Foundation for being the Top Donor of 2012.[15]

Overseas Investors Chamber Award 2010

Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI) recognized Mobilink as the top donor for relief of flood affected people with a contribution of Rs 236 million[18]

Annual Super-Brands 2009

Jazz and Indigo are both recipients of the first Annual 'Super-brands’ Award

Annual Super-Brands 2008

Jazz and Indigo are both recipients of the first Annual 'Super-brands’ Award

Employer of the Year 2008

Mobilink was recognized as 'Employer of the Year'

Brand of the Year 2006

Mobilink was acknowledged as the 'Brand of the Year'

Research In Motion (RIM) Blackberry Award of Excel

In 2005, Mobilink received the Research In Motion (RIM) Blackberry Award of Excel.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.moremag.pk/2014/06/11/mobilink-celebrates-20th-anniversary-with-cash-prizes-worth-millions/
  2. ↑ http://www.saifgroup.com/executive.php/
  3. ↑ http://www.mobilink.com.pk/about-us
  4. ↑ http://www.mobilink.com.pk/about-us/coverage/
  5. ↑ http://www.mobilink.com.pk
  6. ↑ "http://www.saifgroup.com/executive.php".
  7. ↑ http://www.gtelecom.com/company-profile
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2
  9. ↑ "ProPakistani".
  10. ↑ "Mobilink Brings Pakistan's First 3G Enabled Dongle". Brandsynario.
  11. ↑ "http://mobicash.com.pk/mobicash/".
  12. ↑ "http://www.ukessays.com/essays/business/the-merger-of-linkdotnet-and-mobilink-business-essay.php".
  13. ↑ "http://www.gtelecom.com/company-profile".
  14. ↑ "http://www.telecompaper.com/news/mobilink-to-be-26-acquired-by-orascom-telecom--215013".
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "http://www.mobilinkfoundation.org/award.php".
  16. ↑ "http://www.mobilinkfoundation.org/index.php".
  17. ↑ "http://www.moremag.pk/2014/10/10/mobilink-wins-the-ethical-corporate-award-2014-for-mliteracy-program/".
  18. ↑ "http://www.vimpelcom.com/Profile/Understanding-VimpelCom/Brands/Mobilink/".

External links

External news articles