Editing Grameenphone

{{Short description|Telecom Operator in Bangladesh}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Grameenphone Limited
| logo = Grameenphone_Logo_GP_Logo.svg
| logo_size = 120px
| logo_padding = 
| logo_alt = Logo of Grameenphone
| image = 
| image_size = 
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = 
| traded_as = {{Dse|GP}} <br />
[[Chittagong Stock Exchange|CSE]]: {{URL|https://www.cse.com.bd/company/companydetails/GP|GP}}
| native_name = গ্রামীণফোন লিমিটেড
| native_name_lang = bn
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| industry = [[Telecommunications service|Mobile telecommunication services]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|df=y|1997|03|26}} in [[Dhaka, Bangladesh]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.grameenphone.com/about/discover-gp/about-grameenphone/our-story#:~:text=Grameenphone%20began%20its%20journey%20on,with%20the%20connectivity%20of%20network. | title=Our Story |website=Grameenphone}}</ref>
| founder = [[Iqbal Quadir]]<br />[[Muhammad Yunus]]
| hq_location = GP House, [[Bashundhara Residential Area]]
| hq_location_city = [[Dhaka]]
| hq_location_country = [[Bangladesh]]
| area_served = Nationwide
| key_people = {{unbulleted list
  |Joergen C. Arentz Rostrup (Chairperson)
  |Yasir Azman (CEO)
  |Jens Becker (CFO)
}}
| products = {{collapsible list|
* [[Mobile Telephony]]
* [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]
* [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE+]]
* [[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]]
* [[Frequency-division duplex|FDD]]
* [[eSIM]]
* [[5G]]|
}}
| brands = {{plainlist|
*Skitto
*GPay
*Bioscope
*alo
*gpfi}}
| services = {{ubl|[[Mobile telephony]]|[[Mobile web|Mobile internet]]|Digital services}}
| revenue = {{profit}} {{BDTConvert|150.4|b}}<br />(FY 2022)
| operating_income = {{profit}} {{BDTConvert|91.48|b}}<br />(FY 2022)
| profit = {{profit}} {{BDTConvert|30.09|b}}<br />(FY 2022)
| assets = {{profit}} {{BDTConvert|185.09|b}}<br />(FY 2022)
| owners = <!-- do not use for publicly traded companies -->
| num_employees = {{decrease}}1,475<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telenor.com/about-us/global-presence/bangladesh/|title=Airtel india– Grameenphone, Bangladesh|work=Telenor Group|access-date=6 September 2017|archive-date=22 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822113914/https://www.telenor.com/about-us/global-presence/bangladesh/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telenor.com/about/our-companies/asia/grameenphone-bangladesh/ | title=Grameenphone, Bangladesh - Airtel India}}</ref>
| num_employees_year = 2021
| parent = [[Telenor]] (55.80%) <br />  [[Grameen Telecom]] (34.20%)
| website = {{URL|grameenphone.com}}
}}

'''Grameenphone LTD''', widely abbreviated as ([[Trade name|d/b/a]]) '''GP''', is a telecommunications service provider in Bangladesh. As of December 2023, its subscribers span over 82.20 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Subscriber in Bangladesh |url=http://www.btrc.gov.bd/site/page/0ae188ae-146e-465c-8ed8-d76b7947b5dd/- |website=BTRC}}</ref> It is a joint venture between [[Telenor]] and [[Grameen Telecom]]. Where [[Telenor]] owns a 55.8% share of Grameenphone, [[Grameen Telecom]] owns 34.2% and the remaining 10% is publicly held.<ref name=AnnualReport>{{cite web |url=https://cdn01.grameenphone.com/sites/default/files/investor_relations/annual_report/AR_2017_compressed_0.pdf |title=Annual Report 2017 |website=Grameenphone |access-date=6 September 2017}}</ref> As of Nov 2024, Grammenphone is Bangladesh's most valuable company with a market cap of more than ৳440.2 billion BDT or $3.6 billion USD (approximately).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Largest Bangladeshi (DSE) Stocks by Market Cap |url=https://simplywall.st/stocks/bd/market-cap-large |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Simply Wall St |language=en}}</ref> 

Grameenphone was the first company to introduce [[GSM|GSM technology]] over 900 and 1800 MHz in Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://halberdbastion.com/intelligence/mobile-networks/grameenphone-gp|title=Grameenphone (GP)|date=1 April 2018|website=halberdbastion.com}}</ref> It was also the first company to introduce 5G network in the country, for which the first test was done in [[Dhaka Division|Dhaka]] and [[Chittagong]] metropolitan area in mid-2022. In September 2022, Grameenphone successfully conducted trials for the second time in [[Dhaka]], [[Chittagong]], [[Sylhet]], [[Khulna]], [[Rajshahi]], [[Barisal]], [[Mymensingh]] and [[Rangpur, Bangladesh|Rangpur]] cities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grameenphone trials 5G in all divisional cities with the vision to expedite the journey toward 'Smart Bangladesh' |url=https://www.grameenphone.com/about/media-center/press-release/grameenphone-trials-5g-all-divisional-cities-vision-expedite |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Grameenphone |language=en}}</ref> Grameenphone is the only company to offer [[ESIM]] technology in Bangladesh.

==History==
Founder [[Muhammad Yunus]] founded Grameenphone to provide universal mobile phone access throughout Bangladesh, including its rural areas.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Isenberg |first1=Daniel J. |last2=Lane |first2=David |last3=Knoop |first3=Carin-Isabel |date= 12 March 2007 |title=Iqbal Quadir, Gonofone, and the Creation of GrameenPhone (Bangladesh) |journal=Harvard Business Review}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=9 March 2006 |title=Power to the People |url=http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displayStory.cfm?story_id=5571572 |url-access=registration |magazine=[[The Economist]]}}</ref> He was inspired by the [[Grameen Bank]] micro-credit model and envisioned a business model where a cell phone can serve as a source of income. After leaving his job as an investment banker in the United States, Quadir met and successfully raised money from New York-based investor and philanthropist Joshua Mailman. He then returned to Bangladesh and worked for three years to gain support from organizations such as Grameen Bank and the Norwegian telecom company, [[Telenor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/technology/article/0,8707,132167,00.html|title=Muhammad Yunus: Opportunity Comes Calling|date=29 June 2001|work=[[Asiaweek]]|publisher=Time Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010802042329/http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/technology/article/0%2C8707%2C132167%2C00.html|archive-date=2 August 2001|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Changing logo===
On 16 November 2006, Grameenphone officially changed its logo to match its parent company Telenor's logo.

==Numbering scheme==
[[Image:Grameenphone SIM Both Side.JPG|thumb|left|Typical Grameenphone 2G [[Subscriber Identity Module|SIM]] Card]]
Grameenphone uses the following numbering scheme for its subscribers:

* '''+880 13 XXXXXXXX'''

* '''+880 17 XXXXXXXX'''

'''880''' is the [[International Subscriber Dialling|ISD]] code for Bangladesh and is needed only in case of dialing from outside Bangladesh (otherwise, it may be substituted by a 0, making the prefix 013 & 017).

'''13''' & '''17''' is the prefix for Grameenphone as allocated by the government of Bangladesh. The following eight-digit number '''XXXXXXXX''' is the subscriber number. After exhausting the 017 series, Grameenphone became the first operator to launch a second series, the 013.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 October 2018|title=Now '013' too GP|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/telecom/grameenphone-013-new-phone-number-series-launched-1646884|access-date=19 September 2021|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, when [[Mobile number portability]] was introduced users can port to any operator without changing its number.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bytes/how-to-use-mnp-service-for-mobile-operators-in-bangladesh-1644121 | title=Everything you need to know about Mobile Number Portability | date=8 October 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Switch to any operator |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/switch-any-operator-1640593 |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]] |date=30 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

==Customers==
As of September 2024, total number of customer are 84.83 Million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=BTRC |url=https://btrc.gov.bd/site/page/0ae188ae-146e-465c-8ed8-d76b7947b5dd/- |website=Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission}}</ref>

== Network ==
According to Grameenphone, it has invested more than BDT 347.4 billion (US$4.12 billion) to build the [[Telecommunications network|network infrastructure]] since 2018. Grameenphone has built the largest [[Telecommunications network|cellular network]] in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Telecommunications Companies in Dhaka (Bangladesh) |url=https://www.glassdoor.com/Explore/top-telecommunications-companies-dhaka_IS.4,22_ISEC10023_IL.33,38_IC2267834.htm |access-date=19 September 2021 |website=Glassdoor |language=en}}</ref> Until July 2024, GP (Grameenphone) has 22,554 [[Base transceiver station|Mobile Network towers or BTS]], which geographically covers the largest population of Bangladesh with mobile network services.
  
== Spectrums ==
The Grameenphone network is also [[GPRS]]/[[EDGE]]/[[3G]]-enabled, with a growing [[4G]] network, allowing internet access within its coverage area.  its spectrum volume is 127. 4 MHz, 107.4 MHz are currently being used by Grameenphone, the remaining 20 MHz will be added from June 2025. Besides, Grameenphone is trying to buy more 850 bands of 10 MHz spectrum.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Frequencies used on Grameenphone Network in Bangladesh
!Band
!Frequency
!Frequency Width
!Protocol
!Notes
|-
|8
|900&nbsp;MHz
|7.4;MHz
|[[EDGE]] / [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] / [[LTE Advanced|LTE]]
|
|-
|3
|1800&nbsp;MHz
|20;MHz
|[[EDGE]] / [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] / [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A, 2CC,3CC,4CC,5CC]]
|
|-
|1
|2100&nbsp;MHz
|20;MHz
|[[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE /]] [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A, 2CC,3CC,4CC,5CC]]
|
|-
|41
|2600&nbsp;MHz
|80;MHz
|[[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE /]] [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A, 2CC,3CC,4CC,5CC]]
|
|}

==Products and services==

Grameenphone introduced pre-paid mobile phone service in Bangladesh in September 1999 via an EDGE/GPRS/3G/4G enabled network. Grameenphone was the first mobile operator in Bangladesh to offer internet via EDGE and 3G 4G services to its subscribers.<ref name="History">{{cite web |url=http://www.grameenphone.com/index.php?id=63 |title=History |work=Grameenphone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906052840/http://www.grameenphone.com/index.php?id=63 |archive-date=6 September 2008}}</ref>

In March 2022, Grameenphone released embedded-SIM ([[eSIM]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=GP launches eSIM in Bangladesh for the first time |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/tech-startup/news/gr-launches-esim-bangladesh-2973316 |access-date=1 March 2022 |work=The Daily Star |date=1 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 March 2022 |title=Grameenphone Launched 4G eSIM in Bangladesh |url=https://theasiantribune.com/technology/5908/grameenphone-launched-4g-esim/ |access-date=1 March 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Bioscope ===
{{Infobox dot-com company
| name = Bioscope Bangladesh
| logo =
| logo alt = 
| caption = 
| company_type = 
| company_slogan = 
| industry = Streaming
| owner = Grameenphone Limited
| area_served = [[Bangladesh]]
| location_city = Basundhara, Baridhara, [[Dhaka]]
| url = [http://www.bioscopelive.com bioscopelive.com]
| website_type = Video streaming, internet television
| launch_date = September 2016
| registration = Optional, payment required for specific content
| language = [[Bengali language|Bangla]], [[English language|English]]
| current status = 
| alexa = 
}}'''Bioscope (Live TV)''' is a [[Video streaming service|video streaming]] platform for original shows, dramas, movies and [[Live television|live tv]] launched in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-24 |title=Future Startup Dossier: Grameenphone - Future Startup |url=https://futurestartup.com/2021/04/24/future-startup-dossier-grameenphone/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Ekhanei.com ===
[[Ekhanei.com]] was an e-commerce service (also known as CellBaazar) to enable users to sell or buy products through mobile or internet. It was free to use for all Grameenphone customers but was closed in 2017.

=== Other services ===

* '''GPAY''' is a service to enable users to pay their utility bills through mobile launched in 2016.
* '''Mobileplay''' is an online gaming service.

==Other activities==
GrameenPhone has E-SIM <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.grameenphone.com/esim | title=Grameenphone eSIM |website=Grameenphone}}</ref>

===Village phone===

With the help of Grameenphone, Grameen Telecom operates the national [[Village Phone]] program, alongside its own parent [[Grameen Bank]] and the [[International Finance Corporation]] (IFC), acting as the sole provider of telecommunications services to a number of rural areas. Most Village Phone participants are women living in remote areas. Village Phone works as an owner-operated [[GSM]] payphone whereby a borrower takes a [[Bangladeshi taka|BDT]] 12,000 (US$200) loan from [[Grameen Bank]] to subscribe to Grameenphone and is then trained on how to operate it and how to charge others to use it at a profit. As of September 2006, there are more than 255,000 Village Phones in operation in 55,000 villages around Bangladesh. This program has been replicated also in some other countries including [[Uganda]] and [[Rwanda]] in [[Africa]].<ref name="gsmworld">{{cite press release |url=http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2006/press06_52.shtml  |url-status=dead |title=Grameenphone Rolls Out Affordable Internet Access Across Bangladesh |date=17 October 2006 |website=GSM Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102819/http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2006/press06_52.shtml |archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref>

===Grameenphone Corporate Headquarter (GP House)===

Grameenphone Corporate Headquarter (popularly known as "GP House"). Located at [[Bashundhara Residential Area|Bashundhara R/A]], [[Dhaka]], was formally inaugurated on 23 November 2010.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=25 November 2010|title=Grameenphone's house for inspiration and empowerment|url=https://www.telenor.com/grameenphones-house-for-inspiration-and-empowerment/|access-date=29 June 2021|website=Telenor Group|language=en|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629062048/https://www.telenor.com/grameenphones-house-for-inspiration-and-empowerment/|url-status=dead}}</ref> GP House is considered one of the successful office buildings in [[Bangladesh]].<ref name=":1" /> It has been designed by [[Architect]] [[Mohammad Foyez Ullah]], [[Mustapha Khalid Palash]] and their team.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Prospectus, Grameenphone Limited|url=https://www.sec.gov.bd/ipoprospectus/Prospectus-GP.pdf|journal=Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission|pages=65}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Grameenphone Corporate Head Quarter (GPHouse)|url=https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-projects/mpmp/grameenphone-corporate-head-quarter-gphouse--project-pages.html|access-date=29 June 2021|website=worldarchitecture.org}}</ref>

===Community Information Centers===

Community Information Center (CIC) or GPCIC was an initiative aimed at providing internet access and other communications services to rural areas. In February 2006, 26 CICs were established across the country as a pilot project. In this project, Grameenphone provided [[GSM]]/[[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]]/[[GPRS]] infrastructure and technical support and other partners Grameen Telecom Corporation and Society for Economic and Basic Advancement (SEBA), were involved in selecting and training entrepreneurs to run the village centers. These CICs were used for a wide variety of business and personal purposes, from accessing health and agricultural information to using government services to video conferencing with relatives overseas. Grameenphone also trained entrepreneurs so that they could demonstrate to people how to set up an e-mail account and best make use of the Internet. Currently, none of the CICs are being operated by GP.

===Grameenphone Centres===

[[Image:Gpc-gulshan.jpg|thumb|A GPC at [[Gulshan, Dhaka|Gulshan]], Dhaka]]
[[Image:Gpc-nabisco.jpg|thumb|A franchised Grameenphone centre at [[Tejgaon Thana|Tejgaon]], Dhaka]]

A Grameenphone Centre (GPC) serves as a "one-stop solution" for customers, with all telecommunications products and services, under a single roof. A Grameenphone Centre also sells phones from vendors like [[Samsung]], [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[Xiaomi]] and more. [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]]/[[GPRS]] modems and accessories such chargers and headphones are also sold at GPCs.

As of February 2013, there are 85<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grameenphone.com/locate-gp-centers |url-status=dead |title=Home |website=Grameenphone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703095920/http://www.grameenphone.com/locate-gp-centers |archive-date=3 July 2014 |access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref> GPCs and they are strategically located at all major locations of the country operated by Grameenphone. There are two GP Lounges for customer experience of GP Digital Services. There are also 376,285 unique recharge outlets and 6,836 GP Express Stores all across Bangladesh.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
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{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Official website|www.grameenphone.com}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/iqbal_quadir_says_mobiles_fight_poverty |title=How mobile phones can fight poverty |last=Quadir |first=Iqbal |date=July 2005 |website=TED}}

{{Mobile network operators of Bangladesh}}
{{Telenor}}{{VOD services}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Telenor]]
[[Category:Mobile phone companies of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1997]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Chittagong Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi subsidiaries of foreign companies]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies in the DSE 30 Index]]