Warid unveils $250m network expansion plan

Dubai: Bangladesh's fourth largest mobile phone operator Warid Telecom, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Group, yesterday unveiled a $250 million network expansion plan.

It has already invested $500 million in Bangladesh in the past year to cover 61 districts and reach three million subscribers.

Muneer Farooqui, chief executive of Warid Telecom, unveiled the plan at a press conference on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of Warid's launch in Bangladesh.

"Warid Telecom will make fresh investment worth $250 million to enhance network capacity and quality for its growing subscriber base," he said. Farooqui said Warid Telecom has contributed more than eight billion takas to the national exchequer as direct and indirect taxes till April 2008.

Warid Telecom has also provided job opportunities to over 5,500 Bangladeshi citizens through direct and indirect channels.

Warid Telecom launched its commercial operation in Bangladesh on May 10, 2007, as the sixth mobile phone operator after receiving a licence from the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission in December 2005.

Licence payment

Warid Telecom is the only mobile phone company in the country which paid $50 million to the Government of Bangladesh for the licence.

Starting with a network covering 28 districts, Warid Telecom had expanded its network to 61 districts within six months. It has established the cutting-edge next generation network (NGN) through 1,400 base stations across Bangladesh.

"We are being recognised as the fastest growing telecom company in the country with three million customers in 61 districts now," the CEO said.

Farooqui said Warid is almost ready to start operations in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

"We are only waiting for the go-ahead from the government."

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Farooqui announced that subscribers will get free handsets on buying a certain amount of talk-time.