Nokia races to 3rd place in SL

Friday, 31 August 2018 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

HMD Global Thailand and Emerging Asia General Manager Sandeep Gupta shows off Nokia's latest 6.1 plus mid-tier smartphone launched in Colombo yesterday - Pic by Daminda Harsha Perera, See also P10

In less than two years since its re-entry, the once global leader Nokia has gathered pace to become the third fastest selling smartphone in the Sri Lankan market, officials of its new owners disclosed yesterday in Colombo.

HMD Global Thailand and Emerging Asia General Manager Sandeep Gupta said, as of end-March, Nokia had captured 10.8% market share, and as of date, it has comfortably emerged number three, trailing behind Huawei and Samsung. The fight for the third place was fought between Nokia and Oppo.

“Since March, our market share has risen to 13-14%, and in Sri Lanka, we are among the top three smartphone brands. Sri Lanka is an extremely important market, and we are very happy with our achievement so far,” Gupta told the media at the launch of Nokia’s latest 6.1 plus mid-tier smartphone, few weeks after its global launch.

In a great comeback of sorts, the Finnish brand Nokia launched a series of Android smartphones in early 2017. Since unveiling Nokia 3, 5 and 8 (with innovative dual sight twin camera, enabling both front and rear cameras simultaneously for ‘bothie’ as opposed to ‘selfie’) HMD Global has released over 20 new models and sold over 70 million units globally.

“We are among top 10 brands globally, and in 25 markets, we are among the top five,” Gupta added.

Softlogic Holding Executive Director/Sector Head – Mobile Division Ranjan Pererasaid Nokia had recaptured market share given the fact that it has been a trusted brand for the past 20 years. “For Nokia, Sri Lanka is a veryfocused market, and sales of Android-smartphones are skyrocketing,” he added.