Grameenphone has received the TelecomLead.com Innovation Leaders 2019 award for its focus on operational excellence in 2018.

Key strategies implemented under the guidance of Grameenphone CEO Michael Patrick Foley were instrumental in achieving 3.9 percent reduction in total cost base to BDT 75.4 billion in 2018 from BDT 78.5 billion in 2017.

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Grameenphone, a Telenor Group company, reported decrease in cost of material and traffic charges, other operating expenses, salary and personnel cost and depreciation. Grameenphone, which expanded its mobile coverage in Bangladesh, faced cost increase in operation, maintenance, sales, marketing and commission.

Grameenphone’s focus on Operational Excellence in 2018 resulted in savings of BDT 4.3 billion last year. Grameenphone achieved EBITDA margin of 60.5 percent last year as compared with 59.2 percent in 2017 as a result of efficient cost management. Net profit margin of Grameenphone rose to 26.5 percent from 21.4 percent).

Grameenphone had 72.7 million (+11.3 percent) active subscriptions against 65.3 million in 2017. Grameenphone acquired 5.9 million internet users increasing the internet user-base to 37.1 million at the end of December 2018. Grameenphone invested BDT 12.7 billion for 5MHz spectrum, 4G licence acquisition and 2G technology neutrality.

Grameenphone’s 3G network reached 95.2 percent of the population. Grameenphone rolled out 5,009 4G enabled sites in 2018. Grameenphone’s spent was 21.3 billion for the network coverage growth in Bangladesh.

Grameenphone invested BDT 34 billion in 2018 against BDT 14.5 billion in 2017 with Capex to sales ration reaching 25.6 percent vs 11.3 percent. Grameenphone rolled out 5,009 4G sites, 2,355 3G sites and 1,527 2G sites in 2018.

Grameenphone sold 246,693 smartphones through 2018 in order to boost its data revenue. Data revenue accounted for 19.5 percent as a result of 4G coverage expansion and smartphone growth in Bangladesh.