Pakistani Telecom Company, Ufone has secured its largest syndicated financing facility jointly led by MCB Bank Limited (MCB) (Agent bank), Allied Bank Limited (ABL), Bank of Punjab (BoP), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), and United Bank Limited (UBL) to fund the acquisition and rollout of its 4G services across Pakistan. Ufone secures its largest syndicated financing of 4G Spectrum & Rollout President and Group CEO, PTCL & Ufone, Mr. Hatem Bamatraf signed the agreement for the syndicated financing of PKR 21 billion at a ceremony held in Islamabad, which was also attended by President, MCB Bank, Mr. Imran Maqbool; Group Head, Corporate Finance & International Banking, MCB Bank, Mr. Shoaib Mumtaz; President Allied Bank, Mr. Aizid Razzaq Gill; Chief, Corporate & Investment Banking, Allied Bank, Mr. Owais Shahid; Head Investment Banking, Bank of Punjab, Mr. Umer Khan, Mr. Abid Kitchlew Divisional Head C&IBG, National Bank, and Mr. Farooq Ahmed Khan Group Head Corporate & Investment Banking, United Bank Ltd . Must Read: Zong Launches 20 MHz LTE in Azad Jammu & Kashmir Ufone has recently been awarded 4G Spectrum License as a result of competitive bidding during the spectrum auction held by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The company’s investment in 4G spectrum will go onto enhancing its network capacity and readiness besides delivering superior connectivity and user experience to its customers. Speaking at the ceremony President and Group CEO, PTCL & Ufone, Hatem Bamatraf expressed his gratitude to the banking consortium for the timely financial support and said “The Financing Solution will go a long way in bringing high quality mobile broadband services to the people of Pakistan. It will improve quality of network services and usher in a host of socio-economic opportunities for growth and development for our customers” He further added “ It is a mutual goal that both Pakistan’s banking and telecom industries are working to achieve in order to create shared value for the communities we serve.” President MCB Bank, Mr. Imran Maqbool congratulated Ufone on acquisition of 4G spectrum and emphasized on the need of changing the dynamics of all industries post Covid-19, including enhancing virtual connectivity and reliance on technological innovation for sustainable growth. He expressed hopes that Ufone, with the new 4G capabilities, will further enhance its contributions to the socio-economic growth of the country.
Infinix Pop-up camera phones are no more myths
Infinix, a leading mobile manufacturer company has earned the reputation of a reliable smartphone brand in Pakistan. This year Infinix is all set to launch a Pop-up selfie camera phones. The news has been confirmed by the company’s CEO. This upcoming Infinix Pop-up camera phone is equipped with a bigger display, bezel-less notch-free body and highest picture quality capacity. Keeping the legacy of the finest features alive, it is expected that this much-awaited newcomer is also equipped with the classic user-friendly features, which is a signature of Infinix. The eagerly awaited, Infinix Pop-up selfie camera smartphone is going to be launch in the first quarter of the current year. This phone has created a huge buzz in the Pakistani market and this wait does not go unrewarded, as this new-comer (Pop-up selfie camera smartphone) has come with worthy and latest updates. In the latest interview of the CEO, Mr. Benjamin Jiang has announced that the New Year is filled up with many surprises and Pop-up selfie camera launch is one of the cynosures. Quoting Mr. Jiang, “Q1 of 2020 will be the most surprising for the camera lovers and Infinix will be introducing Pop-Up selfie camera phones with mind-blowing tech innovations”. Must Read: CES 2020: MedWand is a Star Trek Discovery Every smartphone comes with a front-facing camera, then what’s new about the Pop-up camera smartphone? A pop-up selfie camera phones are awesome for several reasons, as it comes with a big display and it is bezel-less without a notch. This kind of handset gives an elusive and cool impression as compared to the notch display and gives a cinematic display of videos on full-screen mode. This camera-centric handset is a treat for selfies and big screen lovers. This newcomer will surely create an uproar in the market.Infinix always takes precedence in the world of smartphones to equip its users with the latest technology. Infinix is already grabbing the attention of the smartphone consumers through its popular Smart 3 plus, S4, Hot 8, and S5 series due to its finest features and pocket-friendly prices. Infinix has set a high standard and its consumers are expecting a lot from Infinix in the year 2020. Infinix has some big plans for 2020 and all set to facilitate its consumers. Infinix, once again giving a chance to its users to stay classy and trendy with its Pop-Up selfie camera smartphone which is going to hit the market soon.
OPPO plans $7bn R&D push to build a multiple-access smart device ecosystem for the era of intelligent connectivity
OPPO today held its OPPO INNO DAY 2019 in Shenzhen under the theme of Create Beyond Boundaries, revealing its insights and initiatives for the era of intelligent connectivity. At the event, OPPO also showcased a variety of smart devices including smart watches, smart headphones, 5G CPE, AR glasses along with key technological breakthroughs in areas such as flash charging, 5G, imaging and software optimization. The event served as a platform for industry experts, partners and key opinion leaders to elaborate on the future of technology. To introduce, in his keynote speech, Tony Chen, Founder and CEO, OPPO said, “as the adoption of 5G and AI ramp up, intelligent connectivity is increasingly within reach. We believe the concept of connection is just the foundation, whereas the integration and convergence of things will be the future. The concept of intelligent connectivity consists of four key parts, including the convergence of technology and service, the convergence of organization, the convergence of culture and the convergence of technology, arts and humanities.” Chen also said that, “OPPO has been more than just a phone maker from the outset. In fact, smartphones have simply been a gateway for OPPO to deliver a diverse portfolio of technological services. For OPPO and even the entire industry, there won’t be any company solely focusing on smartphones.” The three key strategies for the era of Intelligent Connectivity In the next 3 years, Chen announced an R&D budget of RMB 50 billion (about USD $7 billion) will be set aside to develop core technologies in hardware, software and system in addition to 5G/6G, AI, AR, big data and other frontier technologies. Must Read: Realme Pakistan teases realme 5s a new power hero device for real fans In order to seize 5G opportunities, OPPO plans to implement three key strategies. For a start, the company will remain committed to core technology R&D to develop world-leading tech; second, OPPO will build a multi-portal ecosystem of intelligent devices with smartphones serving as the key gateway; and finally, OPPO will continue to rethink user service and optimize its content and service offerings. Building an integrated technology system to power immersive and personalized 5G experiences Levin Liu, OPPOVice President and Head of OPPO Research Institute said in his keynote speech, “as the importance of convergence between technologies and services becomes essential, OPPO is building an integrated technology model that covers five spheres, namely: equipment, data, computing, services and scenarios. The model, in which 5G and AI serve as the infrastructure and our core capacities, integrates all technologies to create an all-around consistent technological experience. OPPO will follow a “three circle scenarios” roadmap that covers personal scenarios, vertical scenarios and convergent scenarios to plan its future lineup of devices. With this, Liu added that OPPO plans to launch smart watches, smart wireless headphones and 5G CPE in Q1, 2020. Working with partners to realize the era of intelligent connectivity During the event, OPPO and IHS Markit, a leading global information provider, jointly released the whitepaper titled, “Intelligent Connectivity: Unleashing Opportunities with the Power of 5G, AI and Cloud.” By illustrating the trends and prospects of the industry in the era of intelligent connectivity powered by 5G, the whitepaper provides suggestions and guidelines for the future development of an intelligent and converged ecosystem. OPPO also hosted a forum titled “Future Integration in the 5G World”, in which a panel of leading industry experts, including OPPO Chief 5G Scientist Henry Tang, well-known Financial Writer and Founder of Hangzhou Bajiuling Cultural Creativity Co., Ltd and Lanshizi Financial Publishing Center Wu Xiaobo, IHS Markit Executive Director Tom Morrod, Microsoft (China) National Technology Officer Qing Wei, Endowed Boya Professor of Peking University and Executive Director of Center on Frontiers of Computing Studies Chen Baoquan, and Founder of Context Lab Sheng Wu, exchanged views on the intelligent connectivity powered by 5G. Combining insights stemming from the trends of intelligent connectivity and outlining their development stages as well as its own technological roadmap, OPPO is committed to continuing its focus on underlying technology innovations. The ultimate goal is to drive the long-term development of its smart device business, providing users with more comprehensive and personalized technological experiences. At the conference, Chen said that OPPO will continue to stay true to the company’s core values of “Benfen,” while actively working with partners across the entire industry chain in an open and mutually beneficial way to explore the future of intelligent connectivity.
OLX record investment in Carfirst will be a massive game changer in automobile sector of pakistan
OLX record investment in Carfirst will be a massive game changer in automobile sector of pakistan. OLX invests in CarFirst to revolutionize the way cars are traded in Pakistan. This OLX investment in CarFirst can be marked as one of the biggest funding rounds in Pakistan’s startup history and will deliver the most comprehensive experience to auto buyers and sellers in the country. The combination of OLX’s largest online auto inventory and CarFirst’s hassle-free car trading services will provide buyers, sellers, and dealers with industry-leading products and services. Car sellers will be able to sell their cars through either the OLX classifieds platform or at CarFirst’s Purchase Centers. This will bring the world of online car trading together with an on-ground network of value added car services. OLX is the No.1 App in auto classifieds and one of the largest websites in Pakistan with over 7 million monthly visitors. Every day 5000+ cars are posted on OLX, with a new car posted every 2 seconds, making it the largest online auto marketplace. OLX provides an open marketplace to trade cars, bikes, auto accessories across 115 cities in Pakistan. Must Read: Uber Pakistan and Kashf Foundation partner to promote dignity at work for drivers CarFirst is a first of its kind used-car online auction and trading platform, with nationwide network purchase centers and warehouses. Car owners can sell their cars in the most secure, convenient, and transparent manner with CarFirst, while also providing its dealer network easy access to nationwide inventory through their online auction platform. “OLX has created Pakistan’s largest community of buyers, sellers, and businesses in automobile sector with more than 150,000 car listings generated every month. CarFirst is an exciting venture empowering users to cash their car hassle free and we want to fuel their expansion to facilitate OLX user in terms of ease in transaction” said Bilal Bajwa, CEO, OLX Pakistan. “This investment will bring unparalleled level of services for OLX Users & together with CarFirst we will offer the best online auto experience for individuals and Dealers in Pakistan.” “CarFirst was founded in 2016 and secured one of Pakistan’s largest round of Series ‘A’ investment from FCG”, said Raja Murad Khan, CEO and Co-Founder of CarFirst. “This new investment with OLX comes at the perfect time for us to expand operations. In the coming year, CarFirst and OLX will integrate their services to provide users top of the line experience in selling and buying used cars, including many new products and services that have never been offered before in Pakistan.” Together, OLX and CarFirst will offer comprehensive solutions for all things related to cars, such as evaluation, certification, financing, insurance, live auctions, and many more. OLX and CarFirst will collaborate to add value across the customer’s journey, improving efficiency and transparency at every milestone of the car trading process. Visit the following website for more details: https://www.carfirst.com/
Cheetay Tiffin: The New Service Providing Affordable, Healthy Home-Cooked Food
Cheetay.pk recently ventured into a new business category. Having established a foothold in the technology industry with a tech-savvy and prompt e-commerce platform, they are taking convenience to a whole new level. For the multitude of people who do not have access or the means to eat homemade and healthy food, “The Cheetay Tiffin” is the way to go. Cheetay.pk is merging three aspects which are of paramount importance for people looking for an instant meal: having affordable (Rs. 250 per person), healthy food with prompt delivery. The business model hinges on meticulously shortlisting vendors who focus on quality, taste and a wide variety so that everyone can pick and choose a healthy menu that suits their desire and needs. Ahmed Khan, CEO of Cheetay.pk stated, “you ask yourself a litany of questions when it’s lunch time, more so when you’re at work. What could I have brought from home? There wasn’t much left from last night so do I order out? Should it be healthy? Should I order Desi or focus on a variety of cuisines? Where can I get home cooked food? What people seek is a convenient way of eating food that is delicious, healthy, light on your pocket and can be delivered to you instantly. That is where we come in”. Must Read: Smartphones, IoT And Connected Cars Fueling Rise In LTE Network Traffic How it Works You can choose and order a Daily or Weekly plan that suits your taste and requirements for a very reasonable amount averaging Rs. 250. The customer needs to place the order in advance so that it can be prepared accordingly. Pre-ordering helps streamlining and organising the preparation and delivery so that every individual gets the order of their choice, fresh and on a pre-set time every day. To avail the daily plan the order has to be placed a day earlier or maximum by 10 AM on the given day to be able to get it. For the Weekly plan the order has to be placed between Friday and Sunday from the app or website. Payment for the entire week is made in advance making it more convenient for the customer to receive the order every day. The assortment of meal items includes a variety of different cuisines i.e. Desi, Chinese, Italian, oriental and other options to ensure anyone gets a taste of healthy, delicious home cooked food. Users now have the option of customisable meal plans which allow the audience to pick and choose any menu item from the list of dishes on our roster to create their own Weekly plan. The dynamics of conventional eating and dining out are changing with technology making it so convenient. Virtual/Online restaurants are on the rise enabling customers to eat home-cooked food without actually cooking themselves. Cheetay.pk is the intermediary which gives these online ventures a virtual platform by enabling them to use their existing logistics model to deliver safe and healthy food to anyone eating on a budget. Changing tastes and the demand for convenience Given the constant demand for affordable and delicious home cooked food, Cheetay.pk decided to create a stir in the market by focusing on innovative ideas and using their cutting-edge technology to offer unconventional services to the masses. They plan to revolutionise the e-commerce industry by integrating payment solutions and logistics service to create a multi-dimensional e-commerce platform which is customer centric and offers convenience. For Cheetay.pk it is imperative to venture into those fields of service that serve the masses and ensure maximum utility in terms of priority. Being a consummate delivery logistics service they constantly seek new avenues to innovate and grow.
Zong CEO Liu Dianfeng Issues Statement on World Telecom Day
Zong CEO, Liu Dianfeng’s statement on World Telecom Day: I would like to congratulate all our telecom partners globally on this important day celebrating global telecommunication day in the world. For China Mobile Pakistan, we are happy and excited to have announced our future plan for 2017 in upgrading all our 2G and 3G sites to 4G within 2017 and have more and more innovative and intelligent solutions for our subscribers here in Pakistan, and continue to invest in our network to expand our 4G coverage throughout the country and connect Pakistan with the rest of the world from the most remotest areas possible. This will enhance our Pakistani people’s ability to lead a better, quicker, faster and more connected “4G life”, which will be the most innovative way of education, healthcare, social reform and creativity. We will leverage china mobile communication corporation’s 4G knowledge and research and implement this vision in Pakistan. Other than connectivity, we have also announced our corporate social responsibility program for Pakistan with a strong commitment to use our 4G technology to make the life of our Pakistani people easier, faster and better with the best quality network under the umbrella of one belt one road initiative by China. We are very excited to play a strong role in connecting this project as well as connect all the industries tied with this project to have a 4G ecosystem led by China mobile Pakistan. Zong will continue to invest and lead the 4G telecommunication market in Pakistan through our continued investment, our employee’s hard work and dedication and we will work very closely with the government of Pakistan in order to achieve this goal. This year’s theme, ‘Big Data for Big Impact’ is centered around one of the most important evolutionary leaps in technology that has the potential to dramatically affect the Telecommunications landscape, worldwide. It’s not just about more data, but valuable data leading to valuable insights at operational and individual customer level. A shift is imminent as big data is becoming more and more pervasive. This is n’t just true for social or economic impact, but also in our everyday lives, in areas ranging from Healthcare & workspaces to connectivity in our households. Already, analytics are being embedded in every device and application to enhance functionality or convenience and we being the largest Data Operator of the country, will continue to contribute and capitalize on the trend.
