Fan Yun Jun is working as CEO of CMPak Limited (Zong). He has over 12 years of diverse experience in engineering and marketing. His last assignment with China Mobile was as Deputy General Manager at Beijing. He holds a PhD degree in engineering. Zong is China Mobiles first venture outside of China and has attracted attention in the global cellular arena. In his recent detailed interview to the Technology Times, he spoke high about his companys future roadmap as well as potential of innovations of Pakistani youth
Q: How do you see innovations and objectives of Zong in Pakistan?
A: First of all, I would say that innovation is so important for CM Pak Zong. We have set up an innovation platform which is very important for our company. It has laid down the foundation for a better future, which is beneficial not only for our company but also for our whole staff members.
Q: What are the measures Zong is taking to encourage innovation culture in Pakistan?
A: I think, we have more stress on innovations for our CM Pak. You know, we hope to make a difference; so we hope for our day to day job, we can do innovation to refine our job. To tap the potential of the local market, we do focus on innovations. Through innovations we can take the company to new levels of quality and perfection. Our vision is to become indispensable in the day to day part of the people. To achieve this goal, we should innovatively get more advanced to meet the peoples needs of day to day life. By doing that, at the end we will find that in a traditional way we cant work very well in future. We must transform our organization to mobile phone era and internet era to help our people work in a comparatively better way, and this is the core objective of our company.
Q: Zong is working with a number of local universities especially NUST to establish an innovation centre. What is your experience of working with Pakistani students? Do they have a vision to convert the knowledge economy into innovation economy?
A: Oh yes, as per my experience, the Pakistani human resource is very rich and experienced. They are a very dynamic nation. We as a company are very happy to work with the top universities like NUST and COMSATS for mutual cooperation. Sometimes we also invite fresh graduates to our company. In the telecom sector, we are the first company which focuses on fresh graduates. This is our experience that these fresh graduates after six months in our company give very good performance and they become very good contributors for us. I would frankly share with you that previously the people in our company were very much concerned about taking fresh graduates but now we are very much open to these graduates and I think that we are the better platform for them.
Q: Are you satisfied with the education our universities are imparting to the students to practically become professionals?
A: Yes, I my very much satisfied with that. Actually we have worked with the NUST and set up a GSM lab there. At the same time, students, I think, have a lot of innovative ideas. They have a strong base for research and they have the capacity for value addition. In this context, I am very much satisfied and we should give an opportunity to them to shine their professional capabilities by offering them a good working platform.
Q: Pakistan is going to have the 3G technology in the coming months. What are your expectations about this new generation technology?
A: Of course, the new generation technology is the future of Pakistan and its people. You are going to move from voice to visual communications. For that we need a faster broadband service, better and rich application services for our day to day life. I think the next generation network can contribute a lot. This kind of development in information technology can also cause an economic revolution in the country.
Q: There is a general thinking that one million users of 3G technology can add one per cent growth in GDP. Do you think that it would happen so in Pakistan?
A: Yes, you can say that because the 3G technology significantly triggers economic activities. You can see the examples of United States, China, Japan and South Korea as all the developed countries have focused on high speed broadband, expanded phone mobility and now they are experiencing faster economic developments.
Q: As Pakistan and China have a commonality on language barriers. What kind of barrier you face in China and the same you are facing in Pakistan. How can we prosper in this way?
A: Yes, you are right. Unfortunately, the language barrier had been there but now more and more technology is there for online translation. At the same time there are a lot of organizations who translate knowledge from one language to other language. Pakistan has gradually emerged as an English speaking country and now it is in a better condition as compared to China and this is a very good sign. In China we face the same issue but we invest to promote the knowledge sharing. We can reduce this to the maximum level.
Q: What kind of changes you are expecting in terms of financial involvement or the overall investment with the upcoming 3G technology in the country?
A: As you know Pakistan and China have a very rich and strong friendship with multiple investment and cooperation in various fields with telecom on the top. With the China Mobiles the investment is there, which is a clear manifestation of our countrys strong commitment cooperation with Pakistan. The main area is investment but we cant say about the accurate investment right now.
Q: Do you see there would be carpet coverage of next generation technology in Pakistan, while in the case of mobile telephony it took about ten years to cover whole Pakistan?
A: For our part we are very much positive about the future. You know for the next generation speed of work is faster and faster. So I think, for the next generation teledensity of our penetration rate is becoming more and more popular. You can check from the experience of other countries. So I think the next generation will become the mainstream. Definitely, in this part of the world, I think, the service level is better.
Q: For a long time Zong is participating in CSR activities in Pakistan. Do you think that we need a science culture in Pakistan and for that purpose the science and technology should be promoted. What suggestions do you have in your mind to promote especially innovations in terms of CSR?
A: This is very good question. For our part we have announced some jobs, for example, the NUST cooperation for the innovation of science and technology. Also in future, we are working together in this field. I believe through the smarter pipeline we also do the smart work. We are an open platform, we also engage more and more partners and people as well so that they enjoy their work and life. For this part through this platform more science and technology can be enhanced as this is beneficial for the people. This is the era of smart phone and the smart phone can benefit anyone anywhere. So anyone can transform any of the contents. I think, through the mobile broadband, through this open platform, through the smart network and also through the smart phone science and technology, the promotion and awareness and a new era is coming.
Q: The Technology Times has also taken an initiative to launch a television channel on science and technology, the TechTV, and we have taken over 100 universities on board. Would you like to give any message for the students of these institutions?
A: These students are our future; they are the hope of our nation. At the same time I appreciate their spirit, their partnership as they trust us, they lay down the foundation of our economy as a nation and as a country. I think they need to work hard. At the same time they should nurture the ability to face any challenge in future. I would say that opportunity is available for those who are ready for it.