ISLAMABAD ( MEDIA )
Telecom sector attracted more than $12 billion investments in the infrastructure and new technologies after deregulation during last seven years.
Over 92 percent of population has access to telecom services, which has been possible due to expansion of telecom infrastructure all over the country by telecom operators.
The telecom investment, which was to the tune of $4 billion in 2007, has now reduced to $251 million during July-March 2013.
According to budget document it has revealed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in telecom has also shown similar pattern of overall investment in the sector.
During 2006 to 2010, telecom sector attracted over $6 billion FDI, which was almost 30 percent of the total FDI in the country.
With regard to revenue, the data said annual revenue of telecom sector has reached to Rs 411.4 billion during 2012, registering a growth of 13 percent over the last year. There was a significant increase in revenues compared to slow revenue growth in the last two years where total telecom revenue growth remained in single digit i.e 5.4 percent in 2011 and 3.1 percent in 2010. Revenues of telecom sector during Jul-Mar 2013 have reached to Rs 323 billion, registering a growth of 2.92 percent.
Telecom sector has been contributing significantly to the national exchequer in terms of taxes, regulatory fee, activation tax and other charges.
During 2012, the sector has contributed a record amount Rs 133 billion compared to Rs 117 billion last year. Major share of this growth has been through Federal Excise Duty and other taxes.