‘If we face any challenges, customers will suffer’
Grameenphone will give more emphasis on innovation and localisation of digital services in the days to come and raise its game further to understand the needs of customers, said Yasir Azman, chief executive officer of the country’s leading mobile phone operator, yesterday.
The operator will go through a rough patch while ensuring a quality network if the ongoing disputes with the regulator are not resolved within the next few weeks, said Azman in his first press meet after becoming the first Bangladeshi national to take the reins of the company.
Grameenphone has not been able to invest as per its plans for the last six months and if the situation lingers for another six months, its network will fail to bear the huge loads of customers, he said.
“A large number of customers and businesses are dependent on our network. If we face any challenges, our customers will suffer,” Azman said at the briefing at their headquarters in the capital.
He termed the situation critical, saying the regulator is being rigid with the allocation of second mobile numbering scheme, due to which existing allotment will run out within a week or two. Operators cannot also sell used SIMs.
Grameenphone has been barred by the regulator from rolling out new packages/services or importing network equipment in an attempt to pile up pressure on the operator to clear dues of Tk 12,580 crore as per audit claims.
In the culmination of a legal battle, the Supreme Court directed Grameenphone to pay Tk 2,000 crore by February 23, but the operator expressed its intention to pay only Tk 575 crore in twelve instalments and filed a review petition to that end.
The run-in with the regulator is already taking a toll on customers, according to Azman.
The operator had plans to establish about 2,000 new towers last year but they could not do so due to regulatory challenges, he said.
Azman, however, is hopeful of breaking the impasse through discussion.
“I have reached out to the government high-ups and their response was positive. However, as the matter is pending with the court, the government will wait for the final verdict.”
Because of the tussle with the regulator, the mobile industry was deprived of Tk 5,000 crore investment last year and is now struggling to prepare a complete plan for 2020 due to unpredictability, he said.
On the upcoming 5G technology, Azman said the government is planning to launch the service within the next two years and Grameenphone is also taking preparations for that.
“But in such a situation, it’s difficult to focus on 5G as we need better network expansion for 4G. Our plan is to set up 4,000 towers by the end of this year and reach 90 per cent population with 4G services,” he said.
The Grameenphone CEO said there are some misconceptions about their contribution to the country. Grameenphone has so far contributed around Tk 75,450 crore to the state coffer, he said. From every Tk 100 of their revenue, the company has paid Tk 59.2 to the government in the form of taxes, VAT, duties, licence/spectrum and revenue fees, he added.
