Warid plans Bangladesh domination

Bangladesh’s sixth cellular licensee, UAE-based operator Warid Telecom, has announced ambitions plans to conquer the country’s mobile market within three to five years. Warid received its concession from the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission last month. It says it will launch mobile services in phases and plans to have signed up 2.8 million users in 26 districts by the end of October. An additional 3.1 million customers in 22 extra districts will follow by January 2007, with a further 3.35 million subscribers and 13 more districts to be added by March 2007. The cellco expects to achieve nationwide coverage by the end of 2007. Vendors including Alcatel, Ericsson, Huawei, Siemens, Nokia and Motorola are expected to submit bids for the supply and installation of Warid’s transmission network on 14 January, according to Bangladesh’s New Nation newspaper.