Mobilink

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This article is about the mobile network operator that existed before the merger. For merged network, see Jazz (company).
Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited
Native name
Mobilink
FormerlyJazz, Jazba, Indigo, Infinity
IndustryTelecommunication
GenreSubsidiary
Founded1994 as a joint venture between Saif Group and Motorola Inc.
Defunct10 January 2017[1]
FateMerged into Jazz
SuccessorJazz
Headquarters
Islamabad[2]
,
Pakistan
Area served
More than 20000 cities, towns, and villages across Pakistan[3]
ProductsBlackberry, Mobile Telephony, WiMAX, VoIP, DSL, PCO and Mobile Banking[4]
RevenueRs104 billion (2016)
Number of employees
2300
ParentVEON
Websitemobilinkgsm.com

Mobilink (Urdu: موبی لنک) was the trade name of Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (PMCL), a mobile operator in Pakistan providing a range of prepaid and postpaid voice and data telecommunication services to both individual and corporate subscribers. In 2017, Warid Pakistan merged with Mobilink to form Jazz, under which the company now operates. Mobilink's head office was in Islamabad, and its last president and CEO was Aamir Ibrahim, who became the CEO of Jazz.

The network claims to have been the first GSM-based mobile operator in South Asia.

History[edit]

Formerly known as Mobilink, the company was founded in 1994 as a joint venture between Saif Group and Motorola Inc. In February 2001, Egypt based Orascom Telecom Holding bought Motorola’s shares in Mobilink to become the majority shareholder with 69% control. Then in June 2007, Orascom further purchased the remaining shares under Saif Group’s control to become Mobilink’s 100% owner.

In 2010, Russian operator Vimpelcom (now VEON Ltd.) agreed to acquire most of the telecom assets of Orascom, including Mobilink, in a $6.5 billion deal, creating the world’s fifth-largest mobile network operator by subscriber base.

In November 2015, Vimpelcom announced the 100% acquisition of Pakistan’s Warid Telecom, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Group. Completed in July 2016 after due approvals, the first-ever local telecom company acquisition created a combined subscriber base of 50 million. Following this merger, Mobilink was officially rebranded to Jazz in 2017.

Radio Frequency Summary[edit]

Frequencies used on Mobilink's network
Frequency Protocol Band Class
900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
1800 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE 2G
2100 MHz UMTS/HSDPA/HSPA+/DC-HSPA+ 1 3G
1800 MHz LTE/LTE-A 3 4G

In April 2014, Mobilink participated in the Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) auction held by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Mobilink won the bid for the 2100 MHz 3G license. In July 2014, they announced that their 3G network would be the country's largest with over 9000 3G-ready cell sites.

In November 2015, Mobilink announced its merger with Warid Pakistan, the merger was completed in July 2016 and the companies were going to plan for integration and merging into a single brand in the future.[5] In November 2016, Mobilink announced that Warid customers would be able to use their 3G network,[6] and Mobilink customers will be able to use Warid's LTE network.[7]

Subsidiaries, joint ventures, and holdings[edit]

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

Jazz X (Haier Co-Branded) Mobile Phones[edit]

Mobilink along with Haier Mobile division has launched co-branded handsets including feature phone, smartphones, and tablets.

Jazzcash[edit]

Mobilink has partnered with Waseela Microfinance Bank to mark its entry into the branchless 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).[8]

LinkdotNet[edit]

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).

Mobilink Infinity (WiMAX Division)[edit]

Under the brand name of Infinity, Mobilink had started its WiMAX services in major cities of Pakistan. [9]

Orascom took over the management[edit]

Despite having the 66% 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).[10]

Orascom's acquisition of Mobilink[edit]

On March 30, 2000, Mobilink was 66% acquired by Orascom Investment Holding. Orascom has mobile telephony holdings in a number of countries in Africa and the Middle East.[11]

Governance[edit]

President and CEO[edit]

  • 2016: Aamir Ibrahim[12]
  • 2014: Jeffrey Hedberg
  • 2008: Sifat Ullah Hashir
  • 2003: Zouhair Abdul Khaliq
  • 1998: Al F. Barry
  • 1993: Jim Beneda

Board of directors[edit]

List of people in board of directors to whom Mobilink is governed.[13]

Name Position
David Dobbie Board Member
Hassan Helmy Board Member
Vincenzo Nesci Chairman and board member
Sobayyal Zahoor Ahmed Board member
Mikhail Gerchuk Chairman and board member
Niaz Brohi Board Member
Alex Shalaby Board Member
Emad Shawky Farid Independent Member
Aamir Ibrahim CEO & Board Member

Mobilink Foundation[edit]

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[14] organization, it is purely based on employee volunteerism. No administrative costs or overheads are incurred age the organization and therefore, every single penny that is donated to Mobilink Foundation goes directly into making a difference on the ground.

Torchbearers[edit]

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 2012 in community service initiatives.[15]

Other Internet Free Services[edit]

Mobilink also provides free services like access to Wikimedia Foundation's Wikipedia Zero. Free Facebook is also available with no photos on Mobilink.

Merger with Warid[edit]

Mobilink previously announced its merger with Warid Tel in November 2015.[16] The case was under review at Pakistan telecommunication authority. After scrutiny PTA finally approved the merger on 24 May 2016. In January 2017, Mobilink CEO, Aamir Ibrahim, stated that the Warid brand name would be history, and both companies would be re-launched under the 'Jazz' brand name.[17][18][19][20][21] After the acquisition of Warid now Mobilink joins the 4G service provider in Pakistan.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mobilink and Warid are now merged into Jazz brand". ProPakistani. 6 January 2017.
  2. ^ "About Us". Mobilink. Archived from the original on 26 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Coverage". Mobilink. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Mobilink - Har Dil. Har Din". Mobilink. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Mobilink Warid Merger Gets Completed". 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  6. ^ "Warid Customers Can Now Enjoy Mobilink's 3G Packages". 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  7. ^ "Mobilink Starts LTE Trials, Warid Customers to Enjoy 3G Trials". 2016-11-17. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  8. ^ "JazzCash".
  9. ^ "Mobilink launches WiMAX in Pakistan". 2018-07-22. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
  10. ^ "Company Profile".
  11. ^ "MOBILINK TO BE 66% ACQUIRED BY ORASCOM TELECOM".
  12. ^ "Aamir Ibrahim replaces Jeffrey Hedberg as CEO amid Mobilink-Warid merger". www.morenews.pk. Archived from the original on 2016-07-04.
  13. ^ "Board of Directors - Mobilink - Har Dil. Har Din". Archived from the original on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
  14. ^ "Awards And Recognition". Archived from the original on 2014-12-03.
  15. ^ "A Few Words About Mobilink Foundation". Archived from the original on 2014-12-13.
  16. ^ "Mobilink and Warid to merge into single company". Hotchpotch Post. 2015-11-26. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  17. ^ "Pakistan Telecommunication Authority approves Mobilink's merger with Warid". Business Recorder. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  18. ^ "Mobilink, Warid merger approved". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  19. ^ "Warid Telecom ::". www.waridtel.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  20. ^ "Mobilink and Warid are now one happy family — but what's in it for customers?". DAWN.COM. 2016-07-23. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  21. ^ "Mobilink and Warid are Merging into One Brand: Jazz". 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
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