ISLAMABAD: 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. –APP
