Technological

ROBIs Global System for Mobile (GSM) technology is the most widely
received digital system in the world, crrently sed by over a billion !eo!le
in more than "#$ contries% GSM brings the most so!histicated
develo!ments in celllar technology at an a&ordable cost by s!rring severe
com!etition among manfactrers and redcing the cost of e'i!ment%
(ence, consmers get the best for the least% ROBI is now the leading
telecommnications service !rovider in the contry% Over the years, robi has
always been a !ioneer in lanching new !rodcts and services in the local
mar)et% It was the *rst com!any to introdce the GSM technology in the
contry when it lanched its services in March "++#%
,he technological )now-how and managerial e.!ertise of ,elenor /S has
been in0ential in setting ! sch an international standard mobile !hone
o!eration in Bangladesh% Being one of the !ioneers in develo!ing the GSM
service in 1ro!e, /S has also hel!ed to transfer this )nowledge to the local
em!loyees over the years ((arn2Or2Rashid, 3$"$)% ,his gets to show the
com!anys involvement in research and develo!ment (R45) and henceforth
in !rodct innovations%
Economic
ROBI focses its 6or!orate Social Res!onsibility !artici!ation in three main
areas -(ealth, 1dcation and 1m!owerment% ,hey as!ire to combine all their
6SR initiatives nder these three core areas thereby enhancing the economic
and social growth of Bangladesh% On
7ovember "8, 3$$8, after abot "$ years of o!eration, Robi had over "$
million sbscribers and has bilt one of the most wides!read infrastrctres
of Bangladesh and is a ma9or contribtor to the develo!ment of the national
economy ((arn2Or2Rashid, 3$"$)% ,elecommnications is a highly ca!ital
concentrated indstry% ,he noteworthy investment in networ) infrastrctre
for maintenance and the introdction of new services to re!lace declining old
!rodcts is li)ely to be ndying characteristics of all sectors of the
telecommnications indstry, worldwide% /lthogh the e.!anding se of
telecommnications networ)s to deliver a broader collection of service
o&erings, telecom revene growth rates are mlti!le of G5: growth%
Moreover, fast moving technological trends have generally redced the asset
life cycles% 6ollectively with increased com!etition, the retrn on investment
in the ftre will be nder more !ressre than has been the case for the
indstry historically (Islam, 3$"$)%
Political/Legal
;rom a !resentation released by G:s website on the 3nd 'arter of 3$"3, the
following smmary is obtained regarding the reglatory environment%
"% Renewal of 3G <icense= Its 3G <icense is still not renewed by B,R6 and the
>/, rebate mechanism still is at the 6ort and !ending for *nal 9dgment=
the date has been *.ed for hearing on 3nd October 3$"3%
3% SIM registration gideline revised= B,R6 has directed not to sell !re2
activated new connections from "" October 3$"3% ,his has raised concerns
inclding no rles on valid sale !rocesses at the retailer level%
?% 6oncern of reglators on recent organi@ational change= Robi has answered
from B,R6 regarding this isse%
A% SIM ta. !on re!lacement SIMs= ,he 7ational Board of Revene issed a
notice claiming B5, "B%C billion as SIM ta. on re!lacement SIMs and this is
inconsistent with e.isting >/, act and Robi stands%
B% ,elecom :olicy "++C revised= ,his has been well established by the
indstry%
8% ?G <icense gideline= / draft gideline has been o!ened ! to hel!
sharing of o!inions of sta)eholders by 33 /gst 3$"3 (ROBI c)%
It can hence be seen that the entire telecom indstry is nder !ressre from
the new government laws and reglations%
Socio-cultural
ROBI encorages women in the wor)force as is stated by DEomen are
strongly encoraged to a!!lyF message in 9obs% Its s!onsorshi! activities
inclde being !artner of Bangladesh 6ric)et
Board the 7ational team, national art e.hibition, Gainl2Hamrl
International 6hildrenIs
:ainting 6om!etition, Rabindro Jtshob, ,ree :lantation Movement, /cid
Srvivors Eelfare, /nti 5rg Movement, >ictory 5ay, Bengali 7ew Kear, etc
(robi d)% robis advertisements focs on the cltral vales of the contry
with adverts li)e Mar jonno ebar ekta phone niye jacchi and Ekti Bangladesh%
/mong others, they have social initiatives of
6ommnity Information 6enter, which is Da shared !remise where rral
!eo!le may access a wide2range of state of art services sch as Internet,
voice commnications, video conferencing and other information servicesF
ROBI e) and >illage :hone, which is aimed Dto !rovide niversal access to
telecommnications service in remote, rral areasF
(ROBI f)%