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GrameenPhone eyes 1m subscribers by Aug

Further cut in call charges on cards

MUSTAK HOSSAIN
GrameenPhone is planning to further reduce call charges for both pre-paid and post-paid subscribers within next three months.
"We are hopeful to bring in further attractive packages for both pre-paid and post-paid subscribers within next quarter," GP's Director Sales and Marketing Mehboob Chowdhury told The Daily Star in an exclusive interview.
The GP, the largest cell phone provider of Bangladesh, currently has over 9.5 lakh subscribers and expects to cross one million mark by next month.
From July 1, 2003, the company cut its GP regular phone price by about 50 per cent to Tk 17,750 while also reduced call charges to Tk 4 from Tk 6. The nation-wide call charges were also reduced to Tk 7-8 from Tk 15-16 previously.
Chowdhury said their ongoing packages have created enormous enthusiasm among the prospective cell phone users. "The mantra behind the GP's growth and success is it has always offered attrac-
tive packages in an affordable price," he added.
GP played a pioneering role in bringing down the prices of cell phone in Bangladesh to Tk 6,000 from Tk 100,000 when it was introduced.
Besides, it has the credit of introducing a flat rate of Tk 6 from the previous rate ranged from Tk 12 to Tk 18, and also the prepaid cell phone in September 1999.
Chowdhury said GP is capable to introduce any new technology, incorporated by GSM (global system of mobile communications) industry in western countries or developed world, within six month in Bangladesh.
GP has now 21,000 village phones, each one of those are shared by about 2,500 people. This means 5.25 crore people have access to this technology, he said.
"We have marketed the fibre optic capacity of Bangladesh Railway (BR) after utilising by GP and other cell phone operators. We have upgraded it and made available to any entity who needs com-
munications link," he said.
Two other mobile phone operators AKTEL and CityCell are now sharing the fibre optic cable with the GP.
About the growing coverage area of GP, Mehboob Chowdhury said GP has already reached 48 districts and by the yearend 54 districts will be under its coverage. "We have targeted to cover entire country by 2006," he added.
Chowdhury said GP had introduced voice-based news service in cooperation with two leading national dailiesThe Daily Star and the Prothom Alo. "We made it even ahead of many developed countries," he said.
"We are the first company to introduce revenue sharing with other companies," he said. The company has so far invested $230 million and it has an approved investment outlay of $660 million till the year 2006.
GP has deposited Tk 1,150 crore directly and indirectly as tax to the government exchequer, Chowdhury told The Daily Star.