KARACHI: Plans are afoot to roll-out 3G services in Pakistan within the coming weeks, said Telenor Pakistan’s Chief Marketing Officer, Irfan Wahab Khan on Tuesday.

Speaking at an information session held at the company’s regional headquarters, Khan painstakingly outlined the vision that Telenor aimed to achieve with the provision of 3G technology nationwide. Advancements in e-health, e-learning and e-commerce have been outlined as the key growth areas which will benefit the general public, he explained.

The broader aim is to introduce “Internet for all”, emphasized Khan, saying that every Pakistani should have access to high-speed internet, which in turn will positively impact GDP growth and lead to job creation.

All of Telenor’s existing 8,000 cell sites have been upgraded as part of a modernization programme initiated last year and are now 3G ready, in addition to being energy efficient and compliant with green technology.

Responding to a query regarding Telenor’s refusal to bid for a 4G license, Khan said the market for that technology was still in its infancy and therefore did not merit the colossal amount of investment required. “Currently, there are only 50,000 users using 4G-enabled handsets in Pakistan”, he asserted.