Bangladesh gets GSM

News

Mobile operator Banglalink has awarded Siemens a two-year contract worth $50 million to set up its GSM network in Bangladesh.

The mobile operator Banglalink, a subsidiary of

Orascom Telecom

, has commissioned

Siemens

in a frame contract to set up its GSM network in

Bangladesh

.

Over two years, Siemens Communications will install turnkey radio and switching systems to Banglalink to enable mobile communication for up to three million subscribers. The frame contract comprises a total order volume of $50 million.

"Our objective is to make mobile communication affordable for the people of Bangladesh, and we have opted for Siemens technology so that we can provide reliable communication and cost effective solutions to our subscribers,” commented Lars P. Reichelt , CEO of Banglalink. “Our expectations and demands are high, but we believe Siemens will master the challenges well.”

With around five million subscribers nationwide, the mobile market in Bangladesh is currently still in its infancy. Forecasts predict a rise of up to 20 million subscribers by 2007.