Bangladesh Telecommunications.

The communication sector of Bangladesh has changed dramatically within 2 years. The incentives both from government and public sectors have helped to grow this sector.It is now one of the biggest sector of Bangladesh. As a populous country, it’s huge market has attracted many foreign investors to invest in this sector
At the time of writing, a full set of Q409 results had not been published by all key mobile network operators in Bangladesh. The report estimates that 9.830mn new customers were added in total during 2009, down only slightly from the 10.017mn net additions reported in 2008. The lower growth rate was the result of the governments SIM taxation, but subsidisation of the SIM tax together with lower prices and network expansion are expected to see the mobile market grow at a faster pace in 2010 than in 2009. Both Grameenphone and Banglalink, the respective No1 and No2 operators, are raising funds to support their network expansion plans. Grameenphone has issued an initial public offering (IPO), said to have been three times over-subscribed, while Banglalink plans to acquire a US$60mn bond issue. The operators, together with third-ranked Axiata, make up around 90% of the market and are looking to outdo one another, despite penetration still only at 37%.

One reason for this is the threat of new competition. Vietnams Ministry of Defence-owned operator Viettel and Indias Bharti are said to be interested in acquiring the operations of the respective two smaller service providers, Teletalk and Warid Telecom. Teletalks lack of progress in developing its business stemmed from the governments reluctance to invest the funds necessary to grow the company aggressively to the point whereby it could provide a credible threat to players such as Grameenphone and Banglalink. Apparently, the government is now keen to divest the business while its assets still remain attractive to new or existing players. To sweeten the deal, it seems likely that Teletalk will be awarded a 3G licence (ahead of all other players, significantly), as well as a US$211mn loan at 2% interest from China to help expand its network in key areas of the country. Bharti, on the other hand, could be looking to acquire Warid Telecom for the purposes of acquiring a 3G licence in the country, while it would also boost the Indian operators plans to become a regional powerhouse.
It is not only the mobile sector that has attracted foreign interest. Japanese telecoms operator KDDI has revealed its plan to acquire a 50% stake in Bangladesh-based internet service provider (ISP) BRAC BD Mail Networks (bracNET) through a private placement of shares. The acquisition, expected to be complete by January 2010, will cost it a total of JPY800mn (US$8.85mn). bracNET was initially one of three operators to be awarded a WiMAX licence that was subsequently returned to the regulator after bracNET declined to pay its licence fee. The licence was then awarded to Mango Teleservices. WiMAX is still very much in the initial phase of development and has yet to make much of an impact in the broadband sector. Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh, which launched its WiMAX network in October 2009, was joined in November by BanglaLion Communications, which announced the launch of a pilot service of its new wireless broadband network, based on WiMAX technology. Based in Dhaka, BanglaLion plans to rapidly roll out its infrastructure to key population and business centres across Bangladesh. To do so, it will spend US$250mn in deploying 6,000 WiMAX base stations over a five-year period. Approximately 900 such base stations are being used within the pilot service.
The telecom sector in Bangladesh is rapidly emerging.
Calling Code: +880 – SubCodes

PSTN

The PSTN operators in Bangladesh are:

• BTCLFormer BTTB
• Peoples Telecommunication and Information Services Ltd.
• Ranks Telecom Ltd.
• Tele Barta Ltd.- branded under the nameJubok phone.
• Jalalabad Telecom Ltd. – branded under the name Bijoy Phone.
• Onetel Communication Ltd.
• National Telecom Ltd.
• Westec Ltd.
• Dhaka Telephone Co. Ltd.
• Integrated Services Limited (ISL)- branded under the name Sheba Phone
• S.A Telecom System Ltd.
• Banglaphone Ltd.

The number of PSTN subscribers in Bangladesh as of February 2009 was 1.372 million

Mobile phone

There are 6 mobile phone operators in Bangladesh. These are:
1.Grameenphone Ltd.(GP)
2.Axiata Bangladesh Ltd(Aktel)
3.Sheba Telecom Ltd.(Banglalink)
4.PBTL(Citycell)
5.Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd.(Teletalk)
6.Warid Telecom Int.(Warid Telecom (Bangladesh)
The number of mobile phone subscribers in Bangladesh as of February 2009 was 45.21 million.^[2]

Long Distance Operator (as per ILDTS Policy 2007)

6 licneses were issued by BTRC in 3 categories (IGW, ICX & IIG) through an open auction in February 2008. The incumbent BTTB got the same licenses too. Here is the list of all operators:

International Gateway (IGW) Operators

1. Bangla Trac Communications Limited (www.banglatraccommunications.com)
2. Mir Telecom (mirtelecom-bd.com)
3. Novotel Limited
4. BTCL
Interconnection Exchange (ICX) operators
1. Getco Telcom
2. M&H
3. BTCL

International Internet Gateway (IIG) Operator

1. Mango Teleservices Limited (www.mango.com.bd)
2. BTCL
3.Aamra network Ltd.