Grameenphone Gains Amid Global and Local Challenges
Despite broad economic challenges, Grameenphone Limited reported a total revenue of BDT 4,010 crore in the third quarter of 2025, marking a 1.4% increase compared to the same period last year. By the end of this quarter, the company’s total subscriber base reached 85.6 million, with 59.8% of customers, or 51.2 million users, actively using internet services.
Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman said, “At the beginning of the year, we had a firm commitment—we would grow responsibly while maintaining cost efficiency. I am proud to say that we have upheld that promise. Our initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and control expenses have contributed to strong EBITDA growth. Maintaining financial discipline, we have been able to achieve sustainable growth. Over the past few years, we have been working to bring positive changes to Bangladesh’s environmentally friendly energy sector. With the approval of the Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) framework, that vision is taking concrete shape.”
He added, “Currently, we see a mixed picture of optimism and inherent challenges. With national elections approaching, the economy of Bangladesh may gain temporary momentum, as overall market activity shows an upward trend. We expect new customer acquisition and aim to strengthen our significant role in the country’s overall connectivity. Each quarter, we are introducing innovations in technology, product offerings, digital operations, and customer engagement to remain relevant and leading in a rapidly changing market. We are moving forward with clear objectives, and that future will be AI-driven. Alongside step-by-step 5G implementation, we are investing in AI-powered initiatives to enhance network operations, customer experience, and operational efficiency.”
Grameenphone CFO Otto Magne Risbak stated, “The overall economic situation remains stagnant, and growth across the market is slower than expected. Nevertheless, our financial performance this quarter is encouraging. Through stable profit margins and strict discipline in our core business areas, we have returned to growth. Regarding revenue, after four consecutive quarters of decline, our income rose by BDT 56.1 crore, or 1.4%, compared to the same period last year. Our costs increased by only 1%, while inflation remains above 8%. EBITDA grew by 1.7%, outpacing revenue growth, reflecting our effective operational efficiency and cost control. Although higher depreciation and amortization expenses, along with costs related to new site installations and rooftop leases, slightly affected net profit after tax (NPAT), our NPAT margin remains strong at 18.7%. We believe this is the time to build a realistic and future-ready operating platform based on cloud-native and AI-driven systems. While these are long-term initiatives with limited short-term impact, we expect structural advantages to become more visible as growth gains momentum.”
