Meridian inks pact with Bangladesh firm

Meridian Telekoms Inc., the pioneer in wireless broadband technology in the Philippines, has entered into an agreement with X-net, a subsidiary of GrameenPhone Bangladesh, for Meridian to set up a wireless broadband infrastructure to address the broadband access and Internet market opportunities in Bangladesh.

The delivery and operation agreement includes transfer of Meridian technology, network design and consultancy services. With this agreement, Meridian will actively assist X-net in building its network and replicating Meridian’s success.

X-net, the licensed 3.5GHz operator in Bangladesh, is a subsidiary of GrameenPhone – the largest GSM mobile network operator in Bangladesh. Telenor, the largest telecommunications company in Norway is the majority owner of Grameenphone and together with Marubeni Corp. of Japan own over 60 percent of GrameenPhone.

In today’s technology-driven society, getting connected to the Internet can spell the difference between global competitiveness and the lack of it.

This huge gap in access to and use of technology – called the digital divide – is most apparent in developing countries such as the Philippines and Bangladesh. Both countries have implemented structural reforms in telecommunications to address the demand for 21st century telecommunication services.

Shapir Khasru, managing director of X-Net affirmed that a partnership with Meridian would lead not only to faster deployment but greater cost efficiency as well. He said, "The agreement with Meridian will allow X-Net to very quickly roll out a large-scale broadband wireless network without having to go through the learning curve associated with deploying a new technology."

The wireless license of X-net allows it to bypass the fixed line network of over 700,000 lines, giving the local population instant access to the most advanced broadband technologies while doing away with having to invest heavily in network infrastructure.

Ola Ree, managing director of GrameenPhone and Chairman of X-Net, said of the partnership with Meridian Telekoms, "We are happy to work with Meridian in ensuring the success of X-Net’s deployments in Bangladesh."