Administrative Support of Administration Department: Grameen Phone Ltd.

Abstract

Grameenphone is the leading telecommunication service provider in the country with more than 8 million subscribers till April 2008. It started its operation in Bangladesh on 26 March, 1997. It is a joint venture enterprise between Telenor (the largest telecommunications service provider in Norway with mobile phone operations in 12 other countries) and Grameen Telecom Corporation, a nonprofit sister concern of the internationally acclaimed micro-credit pioneer Grameen Bank. In the midst of lack of communication means, Grameenphone has introduced an effective and user-friendly mobile phone network. Bangladesh is an attractive market for mobile services due to its large artd highly concentrated population, very low penetration of telecommunications services, and high growth in mobile subscribers. With approach innately 140 million inhabitants, it ranks as the eighth most populous country in the world. populated, of which only few million people have cellular phones. Over the years, Grameenphon~i'has always been a pioneer in introducing new products and services in the" local market. The technological know-how and managerial expertise of Telenor has been instrumental in setting up such an international standard mobile phone operation in Bangladesh. Being one of the pioneers in developing the GSM service in Europe, Telenor has also helped to transfer this knowledge to the local employees over the years.