Bold Beginning: Banglalink CEO Johan Busse Vows Digital Expansion, Dismisses Exit Rumours
Johan Busse has officially taken charge as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of mobile operator Banglalink. Following high-level leadership roles at Ooredoo Oman, Deutsche Telekom Croatia, Axiata, and Singtel, Busse arrived in Dhaka on April 6 to assume his new responsibilities. On Monday evening, he faced the telecom and technology press in Bangladesh for the first time. He was accompanied by Taimur Rahman, Banglalink’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer.
In response to a question regarding the company’s recent appointment of its Head of Legal as Deputy CEO—the first such move since Erik Aas's departure—Busse dispelled speculation about legal complications or a possible market exit. He emphasized Banglalink’s long-term commitment to the Bangladeshi market.
“We are not withdrawing from Bangladesh. We have a strong vision for business expansion. The foremost priority right now is launching a mobile financial wallet. This is the Deputy CEO’s primary mandate. We are enhancing our capabilities to work toward inclusive growth in this sector. I believe great opportunities lie ahead for Banglalink. We will progress swiftly through network expansion and new digital services,” Busse stated.
Addressing another query, Busse made it clear that improving service quality takes precedence over reducing service charges at this stage.
“We offer services at a lower price compared to many countries globally. But our operational expenses here are significant. Inflation stands at 9%, and the value of the taka is continuously depreciating. Hence, our focus should be more on quality than price,” he explained.
Despite VEON’s agreement with Starlink, Busse believes that in a flatland country like Bangladesh, expanding mobile network coverage is a more cost-effective connectivity solution than satellite-based alternatives.
At the start of the meet-and-greet event, Johan Busse was welcomed with flowers by several journalist groups. Telecom and Technology Reporters’ Network Bangladesh (TRNB) President Samir Kumar Dey and his executive committee extended their greetings, followed by Technology Media Guild Bangladesh (TMGB) President Md. Kawsar Uddin and members. Finally, Bangladesh ICT Journalists Forum President Hitler H Halim and General Secretary Sabbin Hasan also welcomed the new CEO. Representatives from all three organizations conveyed their best wishes for Busse’s new journey.
During his introductory remarks, Busse highlighted significant milestones from his career and presented an overview of his upcoming challenges and aspirations. He pointed out the steep tax structure and high spectrum costs as key hurdles to new investment in the sector.
“Out of every BDT 100, about BDT 54.5 goes into taxes. Running an entire business with the remaining BDT 45.5 is extremely difficult,” he said.
According to ChatGPT-based metrics shared during his talk, Bangladesh’s ARPU-to-GDP growth ratio is just 0.69%, trailing behind India’s 1% and Pakistan’s 9%. Busse emphasized that mobile phones today are less about voice and more about enabling education, employment, and entertainment.
“Therefore, our primary focus is now on data, not voice. We aim to expand digital services to help build a sustainable digital society. Despite the challenging business environment, we hope to establish a robust digital service ecosystem here,” he added.
Over the past three years, Banglalink has rapidly expanded its network.
“Our focus is ensuring no one is left behind. However, due to environmental and external challenges, we sometimes fall short of full customer satisfaction. We expect better regulatory and investment conditions for operators in the future,” Busse concluded.
