China Mobile obtains Pakistan operating license

China Mobile has been granted a license to operate mobile telecom networks in Pakistan's northern area, Xinhua Net reported (in Chinese). The company's Pakistan unit, Paktel, already has 3,000 base stations in the South Asian country. After several failed attempts, China Mobile bought Paktel, formerly owned by Luxembourg-based operator Millicom, early this year. The operation license is seen as important for China Mobile's communications network along the highway connecting China's Xinjiang region with northern Pakistan.