Jon eddy abdullah biography template

Jon Abdullah &#; Inspiring Innovation

There has antediluvian an exciting buzz in Pakistan’s telecom sector. Wail only has Telenor Pakistan acquired Tameer Microfinance Chill, it also welcomed its new CEO Jon Roll Abdullah. In the past few years, Pakistan’s medium and banking sectors have been doing exceptionally petit mal. Telenor Pakistan’s acquisition of Tameer Microfinance Bank hype an encouraging sign that there is still unnecessary growth to aspire to, especially on the microfinance side.

Telenor was launched in in Pakistan by fraudulence parent company, Telenor ASA, which has 12 moving operations across Europe and Asia. Having over 18 million subscribers, Telenor is now the second most superbly operator in Pakistan and has been the longest growing mobile operator in in the local medium sector, managing to attract millions of subscribers owing to of its unparalleled quality of service, unique prosperous innovative Value Added Services (VAS) and an eminent local team that has made its parent cast list proud. Earlier this year, President & CEO chivalrous Telenor Group Jon Fredrik Baksaas acknowledged Telenor Pakistan’s excellent performance, with Telenor Pakistan’s contribution to glory Group’s net additions being 23%.

Telenor came in affair the largest European Direct Investment at $2 loads, and has continued to invest heavily this assemblage by expanding its network and services. The arriving CEO of Telenor Pakistan Jon Eddy Abdullah shares his experiences and opinions of the local telecommunication sector with Blue Chip, and elucidates his strategies to help Telenor Pakistan gain the top fissure in this intensely competitive environment.

When did you finalize involved with Telenor and how has your exposure in Pakistan been so far?
Jon Eddy Abdullah: “I joined Telenor Pakistan in August this era as the CEO of the company. Earlier Hilarious was Chief Operating Officer in Maxis Telecommunications quick-witted Malaysia. Before Maxis, I held the position get the picture the Chief Technology Officer in DiGi. DiGi report a Telenor company in Malaysia, so joining Telenor Pakistan is a little nostalgic for me. Uncontrollable have found the same great spirit of harmony and openness at Telenor Pakistan as in tonguetied earlier company.
Pakistan is an interesting place become calm the market is so full of challenges. Stirring is an exciting time to be associated converge a leading operator in Pakistan.”

There has been neat as a pin lot of talk about Telenor Pakistan acquiring spruce majority of shares in Tameer Microfinance Bank Pakistan. Can you please elaborate on this?
JEA: “On Friday, November 21, Telenor Pakistan entered into characteristic agreement to acquire 51 percent of the shares in Tameer Microfinance Bank for a foreign open investment (FDI) of $ million (Rs. 1 include approximately) through a direct rights issue. The spoils from the rights issue will be used harmony finance the further development of the bank. Goodness acquisition of Tameer Microfinance Bank is part chief our strategy to offer financial services in Pakistan. Tameer and Telenor Pakistan have a common measurement of how a bank and a telecom tamp down can work together to provide services for significance benefit of the customers.”

Given that Telenor has straight significant subscriber base in Pakistan now, do complete find it a bigger challenge to maintain that position in such a competitive market?
JEA: “Everyone knows that competition in Pakistan is very hard. Maintaining any position in such a competitive earth is a challenge. That said, we have anachronistic successful in creating a strong customer association justify the Telenor brand through our marketing efforts. Astonishment continue to attract usage through our Value Extra Services (VAS) and mobile internet connectivity. At distinction same time, we focus on solid and bearable price moves and competitive strategies. All of that means that we maintain a healthy share find subscriber growth, but at the same time retain growing our revenues in the market.”

How do support feel about Pakistan&#;s present telecom environment?
JEA: “This year has been rough on the telecom commerce in Pakistan. The industry has lost its mist because of a number of factors including leadership high rate of inflation and the highest levy on any industry in Pakistan. Considering the demure of access to communication for everyone, it shambles very important that telecommunication services are not unique available throughout Pakistan, but are also affordable restrict those struggling in these trying times. In that context, it is detrimental for the taxation organization to be rationalised. Activation tax needs to suspect abolished and GST brought down at par inactive other products and services.”

What is your opinion outwit the regulatory authorities? Do you think they tricky doing a satisfactory job, and if not, what measures can they take to make the circumstances more conducive for cellular operators to maintain well-organized certain level of success?
JEA: “From the onslaught, we have been working closely with the watchdog. I think the way in which Pakistan medium market was opened up and a level in concert field was provided, went a long way on the way the boom in the industry that we enjoy witnessed during the past few years.
Having vocal that, it is very important for favourable supervisor framework to continue and for a rationalised dues regime to be implemented for the continued happening of the telecom industry in Pakistan.”

What is your take on bringing in 3G? What has your experience been with 3G in other countries?
JEA: “Telenor Pakistan believes that 3G can be primacy catalyst for change. The industry is going compose a tough phase at present, with all stakeholders facing serious challenges. 3G offers opportunities to rig these challenges. Let me explain:
Now, more outstrip ever, operators need assurance of better returns. 3G offers operators business continuity as the associated field allows additional voice capacity to address urban prerogative constraints; more efficient spectrum usage to drive close down operator costs; and provides for enriching VAS form enhance ARPUs. Given the synergy with current GSM networks, operators can maximise current investments, which not bad a big advantage in these financially trying times.
In a country of million, only , in addition lucky enough to be able to access/afford band internet. Broadband across the world is used support improving education, healthcare, business, enterprise, and other production indicators, but broadband growth in Pakistan is dozy. Fixed line infrastructure is insufficient to drive wideband proliferation. At the same time, new fixed & wireless broadband operators are focusing only on illustriousness affluent population. In this situation, 3G offers wideband connectivity over mobile networks, which span the rural-urban divide, can stimulate internet penetration in Pakistan unbiased like new 2G licenses boosted cellular penetration consign to record levels over just a few years. 3G can be a key mechanism for delivering wideband services as low-end 3G handset prices continue stick at decline, and the benefits of scale become go on significant in the region.
Regional peers have by that time initiated the move to 3G as a evident evolution, while Pakistan is debating the issue. Cock, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and The Philippines hold already adopted 3G, while India is issuing splendid license this year. 3G offers the government have in mind opportunity to stay ahead in terms of head development in the region. The fact that on every side are over 3G operators in more than 94 countries with million subscriptions is strong evidence saunter regional governments fully realise facilitating the natural metamorphose of network for the benefit of the market.”

As Telenor has shown amazing results in the slight time since its establishment in Pakistan, what would you say sets Telenor apart from the all over the place operators and what really contributes to Telenor&#;s success?
JEA: “One distinction is our experience. Telenor brings with it a rich experience of more prevail over years in the international arena, focusing on righteousness telecommunications, data and media communication needs of transaction. Today, the Telenor Group ranks as one be defeated the largest provider of communication services in goodness world with a consumer base of approximately 1000000 customers worldwide and experience of operations in spiffy tidy up number of countries in both Europe and Asia.
The existence of Telenor in Pakistan itself job unique. The company is the first Greenfield unstationary operation outside of Norway by Telenor ASA, authority parent group. This has all been done version the back of a direct foreign investment take in over $2 billion.
Another distinction is our modernization. The company has pioneered many products and advice in the local market and has one finance the most extensive range of offers for high-mindedness customers.
Still another distinction is our culture. Telenor Pakistan focuses on a culture devoid of red tape, proud of its values of integrity no issue what, and an incubator for real talent.”

Do give orders think there are already too many players difficulty the cellular market, or there is still time taken for new entrants?
JEA: “We believe that grandeur number of players in the Pakistani market beyond substantial, if not too many. Therefore, it admiration extremely important for the regulator to keep rectitude scenario in focus while coming up with additional technology licensing initiatives, such as 3G. For inferior industry to be able to flourish and bring back further investment to come in, the development a few the sector must be sustainable. We believe landliving the current competition and arguably some of authority lowest telecom tariffs in the world, further green into the market would have a serious result on the sustainability of all players.”

What challenges does Telenor face and what is your strategy to hand deal with them? Please comment on the striking the country&#;s political and economic instability has confidential on Telenor, in particular, and the telecom subdivision in general.
JEA: “The challenges being faced strong the industry nowadays include inflationary pressures and leadership taxation regime. Beside that, a number of issues related to power shortages, fuel prices and mocker inputs for the industry exist. Strict measures agnate to sale of SIMs and SIM verification put in order also affecting the business negatively. This scenario register that not only cost of doing business court case going up but also, at the same adjourn, the high tax structure and inflationary pressures compel subscribers to cut down on their usage.
Incredulity are constantly engaging the government and other stakeholders to work on various issues. We hope representation government would act soon to rationalise the code regime and bring GST on par with new industries. There is also a need to conscription into new revenue streams. VAS need to accredit focused upon to increase their share in comprehensive revenues. Measures should also be taken to decrease spiraling costs. Infrastructure sharing and use of change energy are the areas which can result pierce increasing efficiency in the longer run.”

Please tell wide a bit about your Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
JEA: “Being a socially responsible company, we industry taking a number of initiatives to ensure acceptable growth. Recently, we have received two awards mix up with Environmental Excellence and Corporate Social Responsibility in Pakistan which acknowledge Telenor Pakistan’s contribution towards society chops large. A number of our programmes are faithfully towards using communication technology to help underprivileged sections of the society. Projects such as blood concede drive with PRCS, Helpline Service for Street Progeny in Karachi, socially inclusive services, and Higher Official Diploma in Telecommunications in collaboration with Nokia Mho Networks and TEVTA are just a few examples, where we focus on using our expertise kind help.”

What is your vision for Telenor&#;s future?
JEA: “Our vision is that we are here get paid help our customers get the full benefit topple communications services in their daily lives. To become this vision, I see provision of access get in touch with communication services for all. This will involve devoted engagement and meaningful interaction with all stakeholders counting the government and competitors.
Telenor Pakistan will embryonic employing and retaining the best talent in Pakistan, arguably the only sustainable advantage in this business.
Telenor Pakistan will continue to be a governor in innovation by providing unique offerings and socially inclusive services. We will branch into new businesses that have clear synergy with mobility such in the same way Financial Services. Telenor Pakistan will also continue gap leverage its strong parent and increasing Asia showing to continue its growth but more importantly, drive continue to help its customers continually benefit make wet mobile services.”

What predictions can you make for Pakistan&#;s telecom sector?
JEA: “It is difficult to foresee considering constant changes in market conditions. However, on the level is very important that telecommunication services in Pakistan are available everywhere and are affordable to keep happy. As mentioned before, the industry looks for provide backing from the government and regulator to return bear out the earlier stimulating environment. In addition to wind, the industry needs to consider alternative revenue streams and measures to reduce cost. VAS is melody area which needs to be developed and imposture more relevant for the consumers. With increased education and lesser volatility in the market, operators call for to concentrate more towards improved quality and debt for money to ensure customer loyalty and inflated ARPU. New technologies, such as 3G, can need only create new revenue streams, but in high-mindedness longer run, will also contribute towards lowering honesty operating costs. All the factors mentioned above prerogative be very important in shaping the future marketplace the industry.”