The number of mobile phone users in Bangladesh has grown by 144 per cent in 2005, to 9.4 million in December 2005 from 3.85 mil lion a year earlier.

The number of mobile phone users in Bangladesh has grown by 144 per cent in 2005, to 9.4 million in December 2005 from 3.85 million a year earlier. The mobile phone penetration rate among Bangladesh’s 140 million people increased to 6.7 per cent from 2.75 per cent. The fast-growing mobile phone market is expected to have 18 million users by end-2006. Bangladesh’s top mobile company Grameenphone, majority owned by Norway’s Telenor, doubled its subscriber base to 5 million, accounting for 60 per cent of the market according to company sources. Telekom Malaysia’s Aktel maintained its second position, with subscriptions rising to 2.6 million from 1.1 million a year ago. Egypt’s Orascom Telecom’s Banglalink came third with 1.1 million subscribers.