OT already has a foothold in the Pakistani market through its local GSM subsidiary Mobilink. The company outperformed all other OT international operators last year with a 74 per cent increase in revenues to £E 570 million ($95 million), on the back of a 128 per cent increase in subscribers. However, the news that OT is in line to take a stake in Pakistan Telecom came shortly before the 6 June announcement that the local regulator, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, had ordered Mobilink to distribute Rs 60 million ($1 million) to its subscribers due to 'poor quality of services'.

OT in early May reported a return to profitability in 2002, with net full-year profits recovering to $177 million from a loss of $74 million in 2001. The company simultaneously announced the divestment of its interests in 10-sub-Saharan subsidiaries operated by its affiliate Telecel International. A major divestment programme last year also saw the sale of OT's stakes in Tunisia's second GSM licence and Jordan Mobile Telecommunications Services (Fastlink - MEED 9:5:03).