Nokia urges crack down on duplicate mobile phone dealers

By Bandula Sirimanna

Sri Lanka’s telecommunication industry is poised for rapid expansion in the next couple of years mainly due to remarkable growth in the mobile communications market but the growing number of unauthorized mobile phones and accessories that have inundated the market has caused a drain in the country’s economy. The estimated loss to the government revenue on illegal imports is Rs. 500 million per annum as over 40 percent of the total hand set imports is illegal.

Picture shows a light hearted moment at the Nokia event during an entertaining song by Sunil Perera from the Gypsies with actors depicting President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister Anura Bandaranaike, JVP’s Wimal Weerawansa, US President George Bush and former US President Bill Clinton.

“Therefore it is essential to promote original mobile phones while taking measures to crack down on importers of duplicate hand sets of low quality from countries like India,” said National Sales Manager of Nokia in Sri Lanka Rajesh Sokhal when he launched the Nokia dealer promotion campaign in Colombo this week.

He added that Sri Lanka’s mobile penetration level of 22 percent surpasses other countries in the region including India and the growing subscriber level could especially help the economic activities in the rural areas.

The subscriber level of mobile phones expanded further by 61 per cent last year and the subscriber level has now increased to 5.4 million. He disclosed that 36 persons out of every 100 own a mobile phone connection in Sri Lanka while its neighbouring countries India and Pakistan lag behind. In India only 13 persons out of 100 own a mobile connection while the number in Pakistan is 29.

He said that close to 100 million new cellular subscribers are expected to come from the rural areas in the region over the next two years and the prospective subscribers would be reasonably heavy users, making an average of 40 calls a month. However he expressed concern over unauthorized mobile phones which are coming illegally to Sri Lanka and selling without any warranty.
“Mobile phones should be more than just calling equipment, it should function as a pathway to the future technology," he said, adding that his company will raise awareness among the local consumers to stop buying fake and illegal phones in order to ensure maximum value of original phones, Sokhal said.

At its dealer promotion campaign, Nokia said it was providing an extensive dealer support and incentives including air tickets to Far –East destinations and holidays. Nokia also plans to engage dealers, distributors as well as buyers in awareness programmes through road shows and promotions.