Pakistan would have more than 100 million smartphones by 2020: GSMA Report

As per report issued by GSM Association, by the year 2020, a whopping 90 per cent of the Pakistani population will have access to 3G networks while an impressive 80 per cent of the population will have access to 4G. 

This mobile broadband growth would have the effect of flourishment of smartphone industry. The mobile broadband users growth in Pakistan is expected to touch 8 per cent mark in the coming years, as the country would have more than 100 million smartphones by 2020. 

The third-generation (3G) and 4G mobile phone users stand at around 56 million and continue to grow, creating a huge demand for smartphones, which is the top selling category across all major e-commerce platforms. 

Publicly available data shows mobile phone imports in terms of value and not in units, making it difficult to figure out category-wise imports. However, market sources say less than 20 per cent of Pakistan's monthly mobile phone imports comprise smartphones. This equation is however likely to change in a couple of years as per the report. 

It merits a mention that Pakistan's e-commerce market is still in its infancy and represents only 5 per cent of the conventional retail trade. 

When contacted, Khurrum Bhatti, a telecom expert having 20 years experience told APP that evolution of smartphone has been fast and swift and has been playing a major role in different areas. He said hefty investments in this sector by network operators have resulted in combined 3G/4G coverage in Pakistan that has reached more than 80 per cent of the Pakistani population. 

Khurrum said today mobile apps and services are being designed and released in different parts of the world. In Pakistan, farmers are being facilitated through smartphones apps to enable them to get proper guidance swiftly on palm of their hands. The farmers are benefiting in a big way as the smartphones display agriculture related information to them within no time and are helpful in areas ranging from sowing to harvesting of crops, local weather updates and crop marketing etc. 

The overarching benefits of ICT in agriculture include reduction in transportation and bringing about of product traceability, disease and pest tracking, and storage. The best part of mobile applications is that majority of them are free and masses can benefit from their use. As mobile applications are getting interactive and beneficial day by day, more and more brands are realizing the crucial need to have one.

(APP)