Tag: GSMA

  • IT sector’s GDP contribution will increase from 2.7% to 13% by 2025: MoITT

    IT sector’s GDP contribution will increase from 2.7% to 13% by 2025: MoITT

    According to estimates from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), the GDP share of the digital and information technology (IT) sectors would rise to 13 per cent by 2025 as a result of the rapid growth of the digital economy over the next five years.

    MoITT’s offical documents reveal that the size of the digital economy will significantly increase over the next five years as Pakistan’s adoption of digital technology expands. In the upcoming years, the GDP’s share of the digital economy will increase, according to Brecorder.

    While the GDP contribution of the digital and IT sectors will rise from 2.7 per cent to 13 per cent, the GDP contribution of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) core industry will rise from 1.2 per cent to 8.15 per cent.

    According to the data that is currently available, Pakistan’s digital economy is measured in two ways, i.e. The key industries of ICT, digital technology, and IT. The ICT core industry’s share of the global GDP in 2019 was 1.2 per cent. The IT and telecom industry in Pakistan makes about 2.7 per cent of the country’s GDP.

    Modern ICTs have the ability to accelerate social and economic growth, and this promise will be further realised with the maturation of four enabling technologies: IoT, cloud computing, big data analytics, and AI.

    The cornerstone for nations to build a digital economy and improve their overall economic competitiveness and well-being is ICT infrastructure and services. They can support sustainable cities and communities by lowering poverty and hunger, improving health, generating new jobs, reducing climate change, and enhancing energy efficiency.

    In low- and middle-income nations, mobile remains the main method by which many users access the internet (LMICs). The Information Technology University (ITU) estimates that 87 per cent of broadband connections in developing nations occurred through mobile devices in 2019. Mobile networks and devices are propelling economic growth by connecting consumers and businesses and delivering public and commercial e-services across a range of industries.

    According to the report, Pakistan’s mobile ecosystem is becoming more and more crucial to the country’s economic development due to its direct impact on GDP and the productivity and efficiency benefits it fosters in a variety of economic sectors.

    The majority of nations currently use 4G as the cornerstone of mobile broadband, and this number is continually increasing. The switch from 4G to 5G is happening at the same time all across the world.

    In 2019, 4G connections made up more than 50 per cent of all mobile connections worldwide for the first time, according to the most recent GSMA research. In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), 4G covered 82 per cent of the population compared to 90 per cent for 3G. Compared to 10 years for 3G, LMICs took about seven years to reach more than 80 per cent coverage for 4G.

  • GSMA funds £668,000 to three Pakistani startups

    GSMA funds £668,000 to three Pakistani startups

    The Global System for Mobile Communication’s innovation Fund has announced three Pakistani startups as winners out of 597 applications.

    These startups are working on the inclusion of Mobile, Internet and Digital technologies in Pakistan. The winning startups Vceela and Orenda Pakistan will get a grant of £668,000 (Rs146 million).

    The head of Asia Pacific GSMA, Julian Gorman, said that digital technologies would transform how people work and live in Pakistan. By 2023 the economic contribution of the mobile industry in Pakistan will reach $24 billion that is 6.6 per cent of the expected Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Pakistan has also moved forward with significant mobile services tax reforms. “As we saw in the GSMA 2020 Digital Societies Report, which tracks the progress of 11 focus countries in the Asia Pacific, Pakistan is advancing its societal, economic and digital ambition, as outlined in Digital Pakistan Vision,” Mr Gorman said.

    Pakistan has achieved one of the highest scores overall as per the GSMA report on the digital society index.

    Federal Minister for Information Technology (IT) Syed Aminul Haq said that the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MOITT) lauded the efforts of the GSMA for its endeavours to bring revolutionary changes in the field of telecommunication in Pakistan.

    He added that the reforms taken by the incumbent government in the telecommunication sector have made it possible for investors in the broadband and communication sector to facilitate the investors’ sentiment.

    He said the “right way of policy” has been implemented by the government, which was one of the demands of the telephony and internet service providers for the last 24 years.

    Haque has also said that the government was taking steps to provided 3G and 4G services all across Pakistan, but the COVID pandemic has changed the landscape. However, the Telecommunication sector strategy has not changed because of high demand and technological relevance.

    Not just GSMA, even World Economic Forums (WEF) has ranked Pakistan as one of the best countries in terms of affordability of ICT services.