Grameenphone users have been experiencing network disruptions in several areas since this (February 23, 2023) morning. Many GP customers posted on social media that they are facing problems while sending SMS and making phone calls. Also read: GP Star customers to get several benefits at Mitsubishi showroom, Rangs workshop Contacted, Khairul Basher, Head of Communications, GP, said, “We sincerely apologize for the temporary difficulty in making calls due to multiple fiber optics cables being cut. Our team is prioritizing this issue and working relentlessly to resolve the problem at the earliest.” “Due to fiber optics cables getting cut during road maintenance work in Gazipur, Tangail and Sirajganj, some of our customers were facing connectivity problems. However, the situation has been brought under control and all the issues are currently resolved,” he said. Read More: Grameenphone introduces mobile data plan feature

Telecom operator Grameenphone has introduced a mobile data plan (MDP) feature that will allow Android users to manage their mobile data usage and price plans directly from their phones. This feature will help Grameenphone curate personalised data plans accordingly by allowing them to optimise their data usage. The MDP feature enables mobile carriers to notify and alert customers when their data plan is nearing exhaustion, and enables customers to benefit from personalised offers, an alert system, data-usage management tools, and a specialised interface. Read More: Grameenphone can't sell new or old SIM cards: BTRC Users can buy a data pack, check their data balance, and receive threshold notifications seamlessly through the MDP feature. The solution eliminates the need for memorising codes or downloading additional applications for data management. Both prepaid and postpaid customers of Grameenphone can access the plan management feature via the "settings' option on their Android devices. The feature will be rolled out progressively to all Grameenphone customers in the next few months. Users will require handsets supporting Android 4.4 and above to enjoy this plan management feature. Yasir Azman, CEO of Grameenphone, said: "We believe MDP is an important milestone in bringing customer delight as now our customers will be more empowered to control their data plan. We are happy to introduce this simple yet meaningful customer-centric solution in collaboration with Google." Read More: Grameenphone helps 11,000 mango farmers, entrepreneurs understand online business better

The telecom regulator has allowed Grameenphone to sell 78,000 SIMs to the army, police, and other government and corporate customers. After a ban on GP SIM sales on June 29, 2022, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) withdrew its suspension on a number of conditions, according to a notice issued on Sunday. Read: BTRC blocks 331 gambling, betting websites Those include the selective corporate sales will be limited to allocated series for the entities and Grameenphone will not charge any money for the new connections, it added. Besides, the sales information will have to be submitted to the BTRC every month.  On June 29, 2022, BTRC placed an indefinite suspension on new Grameenphone SIM card sales due to the operator’s “failure to provide quality service”. Read: BTRC: Compensation for call drops from Oct 1 However, in mid-September, Grameenphone was given a go-ahead to sell unused old numbers approved before the SIM sales ban was put in place. But the telecom regulator backtracked from its decision on November 6 and slapped a restriction on the sales of all types of connections.

After indefinitely suspending new Grameenphone SIM card sale, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) now says the telecom operator cannot sell old SIM cards either. BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder made the announcement at a programme held at BTRC building on Sunday (November 06, 2022). He said BTRC's approval to Grameenphone for selling 13 lakh old SIM cards has been suspended today. Read more: Mustafa Jabbar directs Grameenphone to ensure quality service On June 29, 2022, BTRC placed an indefinite suspension on new Grameenphone SIM card sale due to the operator’s “failure to provide quality service”. BTRC imposed the indefinite suspension on Grameenphone as it is not providing quality service to its users despite repeatedly being asked to do so, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar told UNB at the time. “The telecom company has no intention to provide quality service, as it is not doing anything to fix the problems that its subscribers are facing,” he said. Read more: Q3 2022: Grameenphone reports 6% revenue growth despite ban on SIM sales

Telecom operator Grameenphone has reported revenues of Tk11,286.75 crore for the first nine months of 2022, logging a growth of 5.7 percent from the same period last year, despite a regulatory ban on SIM sales amid complaints about the quality of services. In the third quarter, the company lost 2.9 million subscribers, taking the subscriber base down to 81.8 million at the end of the quarter. "Grameenphone's growth momentum continued in the third quarter driven by strong market execution aided by higher revenue and usage amid several external challenges. It was adversely affected by a regulatory ban on SIM sales from the end of June, resulting in a 3.4 percent quarter-on-quarter decline in subscriber base," Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman said. "As we continue to engage with our regulator to overcome this restriction, we received a partial withdrawal of the embargo from mid-September, allowing us to resume SIM sales immediately. We are also facing a tense macroeconomic climate in Bangladesh driven by higher inflation, rising energy prices and austerity measures by the government to curb energy usage." Read: Grameenphone turns to work from home for Thursdays Grameenphone's total revenue for the third quarter saw a growth of 6.7 percent, reaching Tk33,864.93 crore, while subscription and traffic revenue grew by 6.9 percent from last year. "Our investment in network rollout and spectrum deployment resulted in higher data usage of 52.1 percent year-on-year supported by a higher 4G active user base," Jens Becker, CFO of Grameenphone, said. "Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) for the quarter grew by 5 percent year-on-year driven by top-line growth, while EBITDA margin was 62.2 percent. Net profit after tax for the third quarter stood at Tk907.66 crore, with a margin of 23.5 percent." During the third quarter of 2022, Grameenphone invested Tk278.15 crore in network coverage and expansion. At the end of the quarter, Grameenphone's total number of sites stood at 19,719. The company paid Tk7,850 crore equaling 69.5 percent of its total revenues, to the national exchequer in the form of taxes, VAT, duties, fees, 4G licence and spectrum assignment during the first nine months of 2022, according to a media statement.

Grameenphone (GP) has brought Asia Cup cricket matches through MyGP with the users’ mobile balance.    “MyGP” a digital lifestyle solutions on-the-go, aspires to become digital home of cricket for its users, said a press release on Saturday. This service will enable GP users to experience cricket fever through Rabbithole subscription using mobile balance.  Read Asia Cup 2022: Live streaming TV channels, online platforms to watch from Bangladesh A few simple steps will take MyGP users to the cricket frenzy through the sports section on MyGP platform and get the subscription from Rabbithole with their mobile balance.   That’s not all – Grameenphone is offering a special discount on the Rabbithole subscription fee for cricket lovers as well.  To watch the Asia Cup 2022 Cricket matches live on MyGP app, the GP users can avail of the daily pack, monthly or half-yearly pack for Tk 20, 89 (existing price 99), or 449 (existing price 499) only, respectively.  Read: Grameenphone turns to work from home for Thursdays

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Grameenphone on Sunday jointly launched graduate employment in the private sector programme under an alliance called "FutureNation" to create economic opportunities for all by 2041. Future Nation, an alliance of the private, public and development sectors, is created to accelerate the nation's future economic growth by enhancing the skills and potential of youth by identifying opportunities for development, employment, entrepreneurship, and investment in the post-pandemic situation. Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister; Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for ICT; Md Sirazul Islam, Executive Chairman, BIDA; Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Strategic Advisor, UNDP;  Mohsina Yasmin, Executive Member, International Investment Promotion, BIDA Sudipto Mukerjee, Resident Representative, UNDP; and Yasir Azman, CEO, Grameenphone; joined the launching ceremony held in the city. While speaking at the event as the chief guest Salman Rahman said after realizing a ‘Digital Bangladesh’, the government is now working to establish a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ to be successfully involved in the 4IR, engaging to create youth employment through various ICT initiatives, a pre-condition for sustaining Bangladesh’s prosperity. “I wholeheartedly applaud this initiative, ‘FutureNation by Grameenphone, UNDP and BIDA,” he said. Read: UNDP to work with BRAC for accelerating pace of poverty reduction Palak said Bangladesh is uniquely positioned to potentially benefi­t from a demographic dividend but to reap the benefits of a demographic dividend stable employment opportunities and equipping the youth with digital competencies is pivotal. “We must collaborate to reduce the disparity between the urban and rural areas by transforming the country into a digitally connected society. FutureNation is one of this co-creation,” he said. Radwan Mujib in a video message shared his vision about FutureNation and said FutureNation with its advanced grooming method and more realistic assessment procedure, will help endow the youth with employable skills. “I am delighted to see this coalition support the very critical area of building skills through their technology and innovation. Such an initiative will be impactful to upskill the youth and prepare them for real work,” he said. Sudipto Mukerjee said the global job market is consistently evolving and they must ensure that youth is prepared for the new reality presented by the fast-paced economic and technological evolutions. “The blessings of a demographic dividend do not last forever. The private, public and development sectors have to work hand in hand and accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” he said. Read: Citi, UNDP support young entrepreneurs to achieve SDGs in Bangladesh Jorgen C. Arentz Rostrup, EVP, Head of Asia, Telenor, in his video message said creating opportunities for youth is fundamental for any nation and it is crucial for Bangladesh, more so due to its great national ambitions and is one of the fastest growing economies. “Grameenphone has been creating employment opportunities for the last 25 years. At Telenor, we believe strong partnerships create a stronger impact and this alliance is exemplary of that. Time is now to create new opportunities for the youth of Bangladesh.” Yasir Azman, CEO, Grameenphone, said at Grameenphone, they always take a youth-first approach through our tech, innovation and social impact projects.   “Today I am delighted to be a part of this collective effort- a step towards realigning the existing talent with emerging technologies, making them more cyber smart, and ultimately enabling better job opportunities and future proofing the youth of Bangladesh for the digital world."

Grameenphone (GP) has conducted the trial run for the 5G network with some use cases in Dhaka and Chattogram to unleash the future of connectivity in the country. Yasir Azman, CEO of the telecom operator, and GP management experienced the trial at the innovation lab of GPHouse on Tuesday, the company said in a statement.   The innovation lab is designed to test and experience 5G use cases phase by phase. Read: BTRC places indefinite suspension on GP SIM card sale Besides, the company aims to trial 5G in the rest of the other divisional cities very soon. According to the statement, the breakthrough 5G technology unleashes never-before-seen opportunities for industrial uses, advancing societies and dramatically enhancing day-to-day experiences to create a brighter, safer, and more sustainable future. With this accomplishment, the digital connectivity partner and the tech-service leader of the country is en route to contributing further to the next smart-Bangladesh ambition.   Read Tap offers up to Tk60 cashback on GP bundle purchase Marking the occasion, Yasir Azman said, “We thank the government, regulator, network partners, eco-system players, and our teams for making the future of connectivity – 5G a possibility. We look forward to greater collaboration and consultation in developing viable use cases and addressing challenges for 5G.” GP in partnership with Huawei and ZTE is playing the role of a digital enabler, unravelling new possibilities and accelerating the digital revolution in Bangladesh, it added.  Read GP, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society distribute relief among flood-hit people

Mobile financial service (MFS) provider Trust Axiata Pay (Tap) is offering up to Tk60 cashback on the purchase of GP bundles. The campaign started on July 13 and will run till July 26. Read: Tap, FairMart sign MoU Tap customers can enjoy this offer using the Tap app or USSD code. Also, they can avail of the offer by recharging the bundles in their own or others' GP number. When it comes to recharging bundles in others' GP numbers, the customer who recharges the bundle will receive the cashback, according to a media statement.

Grameenphone (GP) and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) have distributed relief among the flood-affected people. GP has been facilitating flood-affected communities in partnership with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) to help fight the ordeal through relief and rehabilitation efforts, said a media release.   It said four medical camps have hence been deployed in Netrokona, Sylhet, and Sunamganj, providing medical consultancy and necessary medicines to the flood-affected people in the nearby impacted upazilas free of cost. Read: BTRC places indefinite suspension on GP SIM card sale The teams have been dedicated to working from June 29 and are expecting to offer treatment to more than 6 thousand patients throughout the 10-day initiative, finishing on July 8. Till July 3, a total of 2,173 patients have been treated through four medical teams. Netrokona Sadar, Barhatta, Kalmakanda, Dakshin Surma, Kanaighat, Osmaninagar, Balaganj, Bishwanath, Companiganj, Gowainghat, Bishwambarpur, and Sunamganj Sadar are the upazilas that are set to be covered under this collective effort from Grameenphone and BDRCS. Read AIBL donates Tk10 crore to PM's relief, welfare fund Besides the medical camps, soon, there shall also be 15 thousand food relief packs distributed among 15 thousand families as one week's essential food supply for each family. Earlier, GP offered 10 minutes of free talk time for its users struggling in the inundated areas to help them reach out to meet survival needs. "The sudden flash flood brought a grave crisis in the north and north-eastern belt of our nation. While our team, in collaboration with regulators, local administration, defence forces and network operating partners, fought hard to restore the emergency mobile network lifeline and connectivity to the people when they needed it the most; we have also simultaneously assessed the distressed communities' healthcare and food support needs and managed to stand by them. I am thankful to the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society for helping us reach out to the people through emergency response." - said Yasir Azman, GP CEO.   Read National Bank donates Tk11 crore to PM's relief, welfare fund