Grameenphone profit dips 23% amid modest quarterly growth 

Grameenphone Ltd, the country's largest telecom operator, has reported a 23% year-on-year decline in net profit for the first nine months of 2025, despite a modest rebound in revenue during the July-September quarter.

According to the company's financial statement approved at its board meeting on 26 October, the listed multinational posted a net profit of Tk2,264 crore between January and September, down from Tk2,955 crore in the same period last year. Earnings per share fell to Tk16.77 from Tk21.88 a year earlier.

Following the disclosure, the telecom operator's share price edged down 0.63% to Tk282.50 on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) today (27 October).

During the January-September period, Grameenphone's total revenue stood at Tk11,948 crore, slightly lower than Tk12,109.8 crore recorded in the same period last year.

However, in the third quarter (July-September), the company generated Tk4,000 crore in revenue, reflecting a 1.4% year-on-year growth amid challenging economic conditions.

As of September, the telecom giant's total subscriber base reached 8.56 crore, with around 59.8% – or 5.12 crore users – actively using internet services.

Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer Yasir Azman said, "At the start of the year, we made a clear commitment – to grow responsibly and maintain cost efficiency. I'm proud to say we have delivered on that promise. Our operational efficiency initiatives and cost-control efforts have translated into solid EBITDA growth, proving that we can grow while remaining financially disciplined."

He added that the company has been working for years to promote green energy in Bangladesh. With the recent approval of the Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) framework, that vision is now becoming reality.

Commenting on the broader economy, Azman said, "We're seeing a mix of short-term optimism and underlying challenges. With the national election approaching, Bangladesh's economy is likely to get a short-term boost as overall market activity picks up. We aim to capture renewed customer demand and reinforce our critical role in national connectivity."

He further noted Grameenphone's focus on innovation and technology. 

"Every quarter, we continue to innovate across technology, product offerings, digital operations, and customer engagement to stay relevant in a fast-changing market. We're stepping into an AI-led future. Alongside our phased 5G rollout, we're investing significantly in AI-driven initiatives for network operations, customer experience, and skill development."

Otto Magne Risbakk, chief financial officer of Grameenphone, said, "The overall economic climate remains stagnant, and market growth is slower than anticipated. However, our Q3 performance has been encouraging. We are back to growth, with stable margins and strong execution across our key business areas."