FY2013: Telecom sector’s revenues reach all-time high

The sector’s revenues increased by a third, 33.5% to be exact, during the last five years when compared with Rs333.8 billion the industry had grossed in FY09. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: 

Telecom sector’s revenues reached an all-time high, increasing by nearly one tenth, as the industry added almost 10 million new cellular connections in the fiscal year 2013, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority revealed in its annual report.

With a major contribution of Rs438 billion or $4.1 billion coming from the five cellular mobile operators (CMOs), telecom sector’s revenues increased to Rs445.7 billion at the end of June 2013, up 9% from Rs409 billion in FY2012.

The sector’s revenues increased by a third, 33.5% to be exact, during the last five years when compared with Rs333.8 billion the industry had grossed in FY09.

The steady growth came on the back of the country’s growing teledensity, which stood at over 75% at the end of FY13, translating to an increase of almost four percentage points over 71.73% in the previous fiscal year. CMOs that cover 71.7% of the population were again the major contributor.

Total number of cellular subscribers increased by 7% to 128.9 million in FY13 when compared with 120 million as of June, 30, 2012 – indicating a steady growth from FY10 to FY13.

When it comes to tax

Telecom is one of the highest tax-paying sectors. The sector, on average, has contributed Rs119 billion a year to the national exchequer between FY09 and FY13. However, its contribution to the national exchequer decreased to Rs124.7 billion during FY13, down by 6.5% from Rs133.4 billion of the last fiscal year.

A breakdown of tax collection showed a 64% year-on-year decrease in PTA’s deposits to the exchequer. The report, however, added that the PTA received Rs6.8 billion from the operators under various regulatory heads and deposited into the nation exchequer till March, 2013.

The investment in the telecom sector saw a significant increase. During FY13, a total of $451 million investment was reported in the sector, which translates to a 47% growth over $240 million in the previous year – CMOs were again the major contributor, investing $421.5 million during the period under review.

With the addition of FY13 telecom investment, the sector was able to attract over $12 billion of investments from FY06 to FY12, according to the report.

The report, however, said the companies reduced their investments in the last two years as they already established most of their networks.

Telecom sector had attracted $6 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) since FY06 but FY13 ended on a negative note. FDI in telecom sector remained on the negative side of the scale as outflows of $408 million were reported during FY2013.

However, the telecom regulator stated in its report that the FDI outflow could be turned around with auction of mobile spectrum for high-speed internet services, which it expects to complete in the third quarter of FY14.

The report also showed that the imports of telecom equipment including mobile handsets reached almost $1 billion – $918 million to be exact – in FY2013. This, however, was a slight decline from $954 of FY2012, according to PTA’s report.

“The telecom sector continued to grow on a steady pace during FY13 with telecom services, covering 92% of the land area and 75% of the population,” PTA Chairman Syed Ismail Shah was quoted in the
report as saying.

While expressing his vision, the chairman stated he was aiming for an advanced, technology driven, consumer oriented and business friendly environment where fair competition, affordable tariffs, high quality of services and extended land coverage would be the success benchmarks.

U-turn from Xabi Alonso

The clouds on the horizon have lifted. In a whirlwind last 24 hours, there has been a major breakthrough, cutting through the doom and gloom that had begun to surround the issue of Xabi Alonso's future and causing a seismic shift in the mood.

MARCA.com can reveal that Xabi has more or less made his mind up and has instructed his friend and agent, Iñaki Ibañez, to begin negotiating a new contract. In other words, his first choice is to stay at the Bernabéu.

Talks on a new deal won't begin until after 6th January, which is a public holiday in Spain. The issues up for discussion will be the length of the contract and his wage packet. The 32-year-old will want a minimum two-year extension, with a possible optional third year related to his performances and fitness. As for the financials, a salary of around €7 million a season is likely.

There can be no doubting Real Madrid's eagerness to tie Alonso down. Florentino Pérez himself told the midfielder as much when they last spoke, around a month ago.

'Los Blancos' are convinced that Alonso won't find the same levels of respect and affection he receives at the Bernabéu anywhere else. For instance, having still not fully shaken off his groin injury, Xabi will be given a say in everything related to his fitness. He will be offered free rein to determine his regime, when he needs a break and when to play on, together with the coaching and medical staff and depending on the team's needs.

BAYERN AND 'LOS BLANCOS' ARE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FAVOURITES

Bookies betting on Real-Guardiola reunion

R. JIMÉNEZ 12/28/2013

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The latest bookies' odds have installed Bayern Munich and Real Madrid as heavy favourites to win the Champions League. Guardiola's side is priced at an eye-catching 47/20, while Real's odds have been tumbling ever since the competition got underway, recently falling from 19/4 to 22/5.

Barcelona's chances of lifting the trophy have taken a real beating at the bookmakers ever since the draw for the last 16 was announced, in which the 'Azulgranas' were pitted against the strongest possible opponents in Manchester City.

Martino's men had been the second favourites after Bayern throughout the group stage, but now stand third in the reckoning with odds of 57/10, a far cry from the price of 9/2 that was available a few weeks ago.

Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea are the next most fancied teams with odds of 121/10 and 129/10 respectively, making them potentially lucrative longer shots.

The biggest surprise package in the competition has been Atlético de Madrid, which easily topped its group and now faces a tie against what is far from a vintage Milan side.

The mood among the bookmakers reflects the confidence at the Calderón, with Atlético currently tipped as the sixth favourites at 13/1. This makes for incredible reading, especially when you consider that the 'Rojiblancos' were rank outsiders before the group-stage draw, with odds of 66/1

Costa staying at Atletico' - Caminero

The sporting director has issued a 'hands off' warning to any clubs interested in their star striker, insisting the player will remain in Madrid

Atletico Madrid sporting director Jose Luis Caminero has ruled out the possibility of prolific striker Diego Costa leaving the Vicente Calderon in January.

Speculation of a potential exit has been fuelled by the €38 million release clause within the player's contract, which he signed in August this year.

However, Caminero insists the 25-year-old, who has scored 19 goals in 17 league games, will not be leaving the club, despite interest from several parties.

“Right now, Costa does not think of leaving, he is hooked with Atletico,” he explained in an interview withMarca.

Under the management of head coach Diego Simeone, Atletico have gradually bridged the gap between themselves and city rivals Real and currently sit joint top of La Liga with Barcelona. 

Nevertheless, a regular theme in recent years has been the departure of key players – most recently the summer sale of Radamel Falcao to Monaco – but Caminero is not interested in selling more top stars.

The sporting director continued: “Diego is happy here. He just renewed his contract, demonstrating that he wants to stay here,

“He knows how this club works, money won't be a problem."

The Copa del Rey holders are through to the last 16 of this season's Champions League to face AC Milan and could be contenders for further silverware this campaign. 

Whilst Caminero rules out Costa's departure, the director does believe the club will be busy during next month's transfer window, stating "there will be changes". 

However, one area he is not worried about is the goalkeeper situation, with No.1 goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on loan from Chelsea and Daniel Aranzubia.

He added: “We have three great goalkeepers, two of them on loan. This position is not our worry now

Diamer Bhasha: Boundary dispute threatens to stall key dam project

The ownership of the land stretched over eight kilometres is disputed between the people of Diamer and Kohistan. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: 

As a pre-emptive measure, the federal government will soon deploy security forces along the disputed territory of the Diamer Bhasha dam site. The ownership of the land stretched over eight kilometres is disputed between the people of Diamer and Kohistan.

Officials from the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan told The Express Tribunethat a letter has been written to the interior ministry asking the federal government to deploy forces in the disputed territory to avoid any clashes between the two parties.

Dispute between the two parties had worsened in the past month after the people of Kohistan blocked the Karakorum Highway for days warning to march toward Diamer claiming the dam site.

A source in the ministry of water and power stated that this boundary dispute between Khyber-Pakhtunkwa and G-B might lead to a delay in the construction of the mega dam.

“The dispute will make it difficult for the government to formally start working on the construction of the dam without settling the boundary dispute between the two parties,” said a senior official of WAPDA.  In a high-level ministerial meeting, held at the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan (KAGB), it was decided that security forces will be deployed along the disputed boundaries.

The ministers — Chaudhry Barjis Tahir, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister  for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Pirzada, Information Minister Pervez Rashid, federal secretary KAGA, chief secretaries of GB and K-P— also decided that a neutral commission should be constituted to resolve the matter.

The issue arose after the government announced compensations for the families affected by the construction of the dam.

Following the announcement, people from Kohistan claimed that the area upstream up till the Basari check post near Chilas, fell under Kohistan’s jurisdiction. On the other hand, locals of the Diamer district maintained that the area downstream up to Harban belonged to them.

Interestingly, the disputed area is part of an unsettled territory without proper revenue records. However, historically, the disputed territory has administratively remained under the control of the G-B administration and its forces have been deployed at the Basari check post for many decades.

The government later deployed security forces on both the Basari and Harban check posts to deal with any untoward situation. The final decision on the issue will be made by the proposed commission.

Both the sides reject each other’s claims over the area, where the powerhouse of the dam is likely to be constructed.

Casillas reveals condition for Real Madrid exit

The Spain goalkeeper has hinted at a possible departure from the Santiago Bernabeu, suggesting he wants to play for a club where he would be considered No.1

Iker Casillas has dropped the biggest hint yet that his future lies away from Real Madrid.

The goalkeeper, who is currently understudy to Diego Lopez at the Bernabeu, has spoken of his desire to be first choice again at club level.

Casillas has been linked with a string of top European sides ahead of next summer's World Cup when he faces a battle to keep his position as Spain's No.1.

The 32-year-old was expected to attend a training camp in Doha - backed by the Iker Casillas Foundation - for around 20 specially selected, young goalkeepers from around the world.

But, due to the possibility of his wife, Sara Carbonero, giving birth to the couple's first child this week, he opted out after medical advice.

Casillas instead spoke to the keepers on a conference call on Friday, dispensing advice from his own experiences and passing on tips for career progression.

At the end of the discussion, he took questions from the group and was asked directly if he was interested in joining Manchester City, the Premier League club managed by his former Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini.

"I'm not going anywhere I'm going to be No.2," said Casillas, who is under contract with Madrid until 2017.

Casillas has been linked with City after Pellegrini recently dropped Joe Hart, but the England goalkeeper has since won his place back and started in the 2-1 victory against Liverpool on Thursday. 

But, intriguingly, the Spanish icon - who has a record 152 caps for his country - has left the door open for any club where he would be guaranteed to be first choice.

A gift from UAE: Pindi gets modern health facility

External views of the newly built Emirate Hospital at MH Rawalpindi. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: 

Residents of Rawalpindi and its surrounding areas are set to get a fully functional, state-of-the-art health facility soon, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The Emirates Hospital, as it is named, was said to be one of the largest health projects in Pakistan by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under its Pakistan Assistance Programme (PAP) costing $173 million.

With a total capacity of 1,000 beds, the hospital is expected to cater to over 60,000 patients in its different departments including gynaecology and a liver transplant centre.

The first phase of the hospital has already been completed at a cost of $108 million and became operational in the first week of this month.

The entire project is planned to be completed by March 2014.

Sharing the details of the project an official requesting not to be named said that the building is being constructed within the premises of the Military Hospital (MH).

The official said that the existing infrastructure of MH has deteriorated due to lack of resources and overload warranting a major reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. Considering that the UAE government has made this grant.

“The hospital was actually a gift to the people of Pakistan from the UAE government aimed at easing the humanitarian crisis facing the country after the consecutive floods [in 2010 and 2011],” he said.

This facility will have a number of centres of excellence where difficult cases could be referred for expert opinions.

It will also have an outdoor patient department (OPD) complex, an indoor patient department, an accident and emergency department, a diagnostics centre and officers and family wards.

It will provide various kinds of diagnostic facilities such as biomedical laboratory, microscope camera system, computed radiography system, fluoroscopy digital system.

The idea behind constructing the complex which will house 17 OPDs of different departments such as gynecology, vaccine, rheumatology, pediatric surgery, rehabilitation, nephrology among others, was to bring all the consultancy services under one roof, said the official.

Previously all the OPDs were scattered over the premises which created problems for patients in terms of accessibility.

“It is hoped that the hospital will prove to be a benchmark in quality health services,” said the official.