GrameenPhones roll in bringing ICT

1
GrameenPhones roll in bringing ICT

• World Telecommunication Day
• May 17, 2002.
• Presented by A R Saber
• Sr. Advisor, GP.

2
Theme of WTD 2002

• ICT for all empowering people to cross the
  digital divide.
• This is a big challenge.
• Can we do this ?
• First let us see what is GP and what is its
  contribution in this regard.

3
GrameenPhone (GP)

• GSM mobile phone company.
• Started its services in March, 1997.
• Now (May, 2002) Subscription 5,60,000.
• Coverage In 40 district H/Qs.
• Village Phones 12,000.
• International Roaming (IR) with 40 countries
  having 100 GSM operators.
• Investment so far 175 million U.S. .
• Contribution to GOB Direct 550 crore taka and
  indirect 220 crore taka.

4
GPs roll in bringing ICT

• Recently GP has introduced two service in this
  regard
• 1. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).
• 2. Short Message Service (SMS).

5
What is GP WAP

• GP WAP will have access to INTERNET.
• Thus INERNET contents will be displayed on GPs
  handset Screen.

6
GP WAP Provides

• Information all types News, Travel information,
  reservation, Sports etc.
• Emergencies Medical care, fire, Taxi, Police
  etc.
• Entertainment Games, Movies, TV programs etc.
• Personalized Service Text-Mail, CHAT etc

7
GP WAP Cost

• For this data enabled SIM card is required.
• For post paid Mobile additional 150 taka per
  month and airtime 2 taka per min plus VAT.
• For pre paid Mobile No monthly access fee, only
  air time 4 taka per min plus VAT.

8
GP Short Message Service(SMS)

• This is simply an Text-Mail service through GP
  mobile.
• Message upto 160 characters may be sent or
  received.
• Cost 2 taka per message.

9
Conclusion

• In Bangladesh the tele-density is only 1 and
  tele- reach may be 40 to 50.
• Under this situation, ICT for all is a mere
  dream.
• So, let us liberalize fully Telecom sector (as
  in China) and work for rapid growth of
  tele-density and tele-reach so that the theme WTD
  2002 may be achieved.