Grameenphone earns accolades at Asian Telecom Awards 2025
The telecom service provider was recognised for providing exemplary service and promoting initiatives for internet awareness amongst marginal areas.
Grameenphone won the ESG Initiative of the Year - Bangladesh and Mobile Operator of the Year - Bangladesh honours at the Asian Telecom Awards 2025, which commend the company’s Internet er Duniya Shobar – IDS (Internet for All) initiative and its success as a mobile operator.
Internet er Duniya Shobar
The Internet er Duniya Shobar – IDS (Internet for All) initiative was launched by Grameenphone in March 2023 to address the digital divide that disproportionately affects rural women in Bangladesh. This programme empowers millions of rural women across 2,000 unions by raising awareness about the internet and its potential to transform lives.
IDS uses uthan boithok (courtyard gatherings), a culturally familiar and accessible platform, to introduce rural women to the digital world through social interactions and modern learning techniques. The programme includes quizzes and interactive activities, along with tailored content such as healthcare resources developed in partnership with Dr Tasnim Jara.
Bangladesh is a land where smartphone penetration is only 41% in urban areas, even lower in rural areas with 26%. Here, women are more deprived of using internet where the male to female internet usage ratio is 70:30.
IDS has directly connected participants to essential services, empowering them to make informed decisions.
IDS also involves strategic partnerships with smartphone, financial solutions, and media companies like Nokia, Dhaka Bank, and Prothom Alo, which have extended its impact to reach more rural women.
IDS is designed to be scalable and adaptable, and this meets the evolving needs of rural women by incorporating new content, themes, and opportunities.
Through both digital and traditional media, IDS continues to invest in women's digital inclusion and expand its reach
Leading telecom brand
Grameenphone remains the leading telecom operator in Bangladesh with its continuous excellence, innovation, and commendable service quality. With a reach that covers around 85 million people, or around half of the country’s population, Grameenphone consistently topped brand preference surveys significantly, surpassing its market share.
A key driver of this success is Grameenphone’s extensive network, having more than 22,000 towers across the country. The company offers more than 95% geographical coverage and serves over 99% of the population coverage. In a 2025 report from OpenSignal, Grameenphone was recognised as the leader in 7 out of 9 performance categories, including coverage, consistency, and overall service experience.
Furthermore, Grameenphone was the first in Bangladesh to launch 5G trials in 2022. Intending to constantly modernise its network and services, the company boasts state-of-the-art offerings such as the unified IoT solution portfolio Alo and the highly popular MyGP app, which provides users with seamless access to over 99% of the brand’s services
With regards to sustainability and social responsibility, the company utilises over 1,200 solar-powered network towers and promotes efforts that reduce carbon footprints. Even in many places where electricity is unreliable or even absent, Grameenphone service remains top notch with the solar energy.
Grameenphone is actively driving digital innovation in the socio-economic landscape through its extensive data and digital advancements, backed by a commitment to continuous innovation.
The Asia Telecom Awards recognises exceptional accomplishments within the telecom industry in the Asia Pacific region. It also highlights the journey of telecom companies that have driven progress and ignited transformative shifts within the sector.
The Asian Telecom Awards is presented by Asian Telecom Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for delivering cutting-edge, award-winning telco products and services to customers, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at [email protected].
