Wireless Federation

BTRC announces national 3G mobile licence auction in June 2012 (Bangladesh)

On 11.29.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has reportedly announced a national 3G UMTS mobile licence auction to be held in June 2012. According to reports, Zia Ahmed, Head of BTRC has said that they have shortlisted the Indian wing of UK-based PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PwCIL) and US-based Nera Economic Consulting, as consultants for conducting the auction. He added that 3G licence bids would be accepted from both domestic as well as overseas bidders. Further, in the event that that a new entrant would win a 3G concession, the BTRC would also consider its application for a 2G licence.

As per sources, the state-owned mobile operator Teletalk will be allowed to launch its 3G services based on the W-CDMA/HSPA network technology on 26 March 2012 for an exclusive period of six months ending in September 2012. However, reports reveal that while Teletalk will not be required to compete in the June auction, it will need to pay a cost for the commercial spectrum which would be equal to the highest bid. The mobile operators expected to bid in the auction include GrameenPhone, Robi, Banglalink and Airtel.

Further, reports suggest that Teletalk has said that it will have an initial capacity for 1.7 million users which it aims to increase significantly to around three million users by March 2012. Mujibur Rahman, Managing Director, Teletalk, is hopeful that that the six-month 3G exclusivity period will help generate interest amongst the users, increasing their subscriber base, as the operators participating in the 3G auction in June will not be permitted to launch their services before September.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Airtel • Bangladesh • Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) • Banglalink • GrameenPhone • India • Robi • Teletalk

BTRC to audit mobile operators (Bangladesh)

On 03.30.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The Bangladesh telecommunications regulator, BTRC is planning to audit mobile operators and has already appointed two firms for the project.

As per BTRC official, the first two operators to be scrutinized by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) are Grameenphone and Banglalink.

The move comes as the operators, along with Roby and Citycell, have to renew their licences this year. According to Grameenphone’s Chief Corporate Officer, the company has no problems with the audit as it complies with the laws. Zakiul Islam, director of Banglalink, also welcomed the regulator’s move.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bangladesh • Banglalink • BTRC • Chief corporate officer • CityCell • Director • GrameenPhone • operator • Roby • Zakiul Islam

BTRC puts different spectrum utilization fee for operators (Bangladesh)

On 03.24.11, In Mobile, By Editor

If reports are to be believed, the new 2G spectrum licence proposal from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has baffled the operators.

According to the draft 2G licence renewal guideline, radio spectrum prices per Megahertz (MHz) are set at Tk 300 crore for the 900 MHz band, Tk 150 crore for the 1,800 MHz band of GSM technology, and Tk 150 crore for the 850 MHz band of CDMA technology.

However, the spectrum utilization charges differ per operator based on their subscriber bases. According to the draft, Grameenphone would have to pay BDT 55.04 in spectrum fees, followed by Robi which would pay BDT 30 billion, Banglalink which would pay BDT 29.94 billion, and Citycell would pay BDT 6.20 billion. The licence renewal fee for 15 years would be BDT 100 million.

Grameenphone chief corporate officer, Mahmud Hossain called the different spectrum utilization fees discriminatory and unfair. Furthermore, the government has failed to explain the exact method of calculation of the utilization fees.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bangladesh • Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission • BTRC • Chief corporate officer • CityCell • GrameenPhone • GSM • Mahmud Hossain • operator • Robi • spectrum • utilization fee

Bangladesh ends February with 71.5 mn mobile subscribers

On 03.16.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The new figures from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) have revealed that the total number of mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh grew to 71.51 million in February from 70.34 million in January.

Mobile operator GrameenPhone led the market with 31.14 million customers, up from 30.43 million a month earlier. Banglalink (Orascom Telecom Bangladesh) followed with 20.18 million customers, an increase from 20.04 million, while Robi (Axiata Bangladesh) ended February with 12.81 million customers, which grew from 12.63 million a month earlier.

Airtel Bangladesh saw its customer base grow to 4.37 million from 4.18 million, while Citycell’s (PBTL) subscriber base grew to 1.79 million from 1.86 million in the prior month. Teletalk’s subscriber base rose to 1.22 million from to 1.20 million in January.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Axiata Bangladesh • Bangladesh • Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission • Banglalink • BTRC • CityCell • GrameenPhone • Mobile • mobile phone subscribers • Orascom Telecom Bangladesh • PBTL • Robi • Teletalk

Grameenphone revenue increased by 14% in 2010 (Bangladesh)

On 02.08.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Grameenphone, Bangladeshi mobile operator, has posted a growth of 14.4% in its revenues for 2010. The company posted revenue of US$105 million.

The growth was mainly from voice as well as interconnection revenues driven by subscription growth and revenues from sale of mobile devices.

Data revenue also contributed to this strong revenue growth as it increased by 64% year-on-year. Total revenue for the fourth quarter was US$0.28 million, up by 17% from the year-ago quarter.

Grameenphone ended the fourth quarter with 30 million subscribers as it added 6.70 million new subscribers. The company claims a market share of 44%.

The company posted a net profit of US$0.15 million, compared with US$0.21 million in 2009. The fall was mainly due to subsidy on SIM tax of US$0.10 million, partly offset by revenue growth. This also pushed the EBITDA margins down to 49.5% for 2010 compared to 57% in 2009.

Earnings per share (EPS) for 2010 stood at US$0.11 compared to US$0.17. During the year 2010, Grameenphone invested US$0.12 million for network quality and data capacity enhancement and modernization.

The company also announced that its mobile licence will expire on 10 November this year, along with three other mobile operators. Regulators have published a renewal framework on in January and Grameenphone is evaluating the guidelines as per the framework and will provide feedback to the regulators as per agreed timeline. The board of directors recommended final dividend for the year 2010 in cash at the rate of 85 percent of the paid up capital.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bangladesh • Earnings per share (EPS) • EBITDA margins • fourth quarter • GrameenPhone • Mobile • SIM tax

Bangladesh plans network license renewal

On 12.03.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has submitted its draft plan for the renewal of the mobile operating licenses for the country’s four largest mobile networks, Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Citycell. The networks current licenses are going to expire in November 2011.

However, according to sources, the BTRC did not consult with the mobile operators during preparation of the draft policy, though the ministry stated that it would finalize the policy after discussing with operators.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bangladesh • Banglalink • BTRC • CityCell • GrameenPhone • Mobile • network license • Robi

Bangladeshi operators join VOIP detection system

On 05.06.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A system to automatically detect illegal international call terminations via VoIP has been joined by four Bangladesh operators, namely, Grameenphone, Banglalink, Warid Telecom, and Citycell.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) premises carry the system and detect mobile numbers that are used for illegal call termination.

Out of the 60 million minutes of international calls that are made to and from Bangladesh per day, 30 percent account for illegal VoIP calls. Only illegal calls generated through a ‘SIM box’ can be detected by the system while illegal VoIP operators can also use E1 lines.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: VoIP • ASIA • Bangladesh • Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission • Banglalink • City Cell • GrameenPhone • operator • Warid Telecom

GrameenPhone quarterly profit goes up by 38.6%

On 05.05.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The largest operator of Bangladesh, Grameenphone has reported an 8% rise in its first-quarter revenues to BDT 1,700 crore (US$241 million). Data revenues have also contributed to the consistent revenue growth, increased by 65% and 13% from first quarter and fourth quarter of 2009 respectively.

According to Oddvar Hesjedal, CEO, Grameenphone, the company is pleased by the results of the first quarter particularly since this is the first full quarter results for Grameenphone as a publicly listed company.

The operator has also added over 645,000 new subscriptions which take its total toll to 23.9 million.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bangladesh • GrameenPhone • U.S

Uninor subscribers to get call destination based discounts

On 05.01.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Adding fuel to the already ignited tariff competition in the Indian market, discounts have been offered the subscribers by mobile operator Uninor on the basis of where they make their calls from. Depending on congestion levels at the tower where the call is initiated, discount up to 60% will be offered to the subscribers for local calls.

The user is eligible for the maximum discount of 60% on the standard call rate of 50 paise per minute if the load on a tower is very low. Users will be able to see on their handsets the discount that will be available at any point of time.

According to the company, aim of its new services is not to set off another tariff war but to offer this interesting service to all its users. Telenor service along with Grameenphone is already a hit in Bangladesh.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: ASIA • Bangladesh • GrameenPhone • India • operator • Telenor • Uninor

Warid & Citycell ink infrastructure sharing deal (Bangladesh)

On 04.12.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: An infrastructure sharing agreement has been signed between Bangladeshi mobile operators Warid and Citycell. Base stations, towers, poles, transmitter equipment, bandwidth and power will be shared between Pacific Bangladesh Telecom, or Citycell and Warid under the terms of the agreements.

A similar infrastructure sharing deal was inked between Grameenphone, Banglalink and Robi (formerly Aktel) earlier this year.

An infrastructure sharing guideline issued by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in September 2008 are taken into consideration by the operator while signing the deal.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Aktel • ASIA • Bangladesh • Bangladesh Telecom • Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission • Banglalink • CityCell • GrameenPhone • operator • Warid