Telecom minister urges mobile operators to expand 4G network

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar has urged the country's phone mobile operators to expand their fourth-generation or 4G networks to meet the growing demand for the digital technology-based trade and commerce.

He said during the pandemic, the mobile phone and the internet have become part and parcel of everyone's life. It plays a pivotal role in working from home and allows people to stay indoors.

Mustafa Jabbar made the statement on Wednesday while addressing the graduates of the 6th batch of the Grameenphone's Accelerator (GPA) programme as the chief guest.

Yasir Azman, chief executive officer of the country's leading mobile phone operator, presided over the virtual programme.

During the event, eight startups of the GPA programme presented their ventures in front of more than 100 local and foreign investors, eco-system players, professionals, academics, and senior officials from Grameenphone and Seedstars – a Swiss-based private group of companies.

Speaking on this occasion, Mustafa Jabbar said, "I see the merit in patronising innovative minds of Bangladesh to shine and work towards addressing our problems and solving them in our ways in partnership with global platforms like Seedstars.

"Such initiatives will help the country rally around the Digital Bangladesh ambition."

In his remark, Yasir Azman said, "The Accelerator Programme has always been exciting for us. I take this opportunity to thank our tech-savvy generation for unlocking possibilities of digitalisation, creating solutions, and job opportunities every day."

He said that the young innovators should have got more support, especially during these unprecedented difficult times when "we need innovation, contribution, and collaboration from every corner of the country."

Solaiman Alam, chief digital and strategy officer of Grameenphone, also spoke at the ceremony.

The Grameenphone Accelerator for the 6th batch was launched in November 2019 by partnering with Seedstars to empower tech startups with the resources they need to build, grow, and boost the technology-driven societal progress.

Throughout the four-month programme, the startups have received advice from both local and foreign industry mentors, industry experts, and professionals on critical development elements.

The platform had also helped the startups connect with potential investors to accelerate their businesses. The total value of all the support provided to each team has been approximately Tk6.5 lakh.