Warid Bangladesh

Warid Bangladesh was a GSM-based mobile network operator that entered Bangladesh as the country's sixth mobile carrier. Its corporate presence began in December 2005, when Warid Telecom International LLC, associated with the Abu Dhabi Group, paid US$50 million for a GSM license from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. The company planned a rapid nationwide rollout, but its commercial launch was delayed after Nokia, described as a major network supplier, withdrew from an agreement amid a payment dispute. Warid conducted a limited soft launch in late January 2007, distributing complimentary subscriptions to selected users so that it could test its network and refine service quality. Full commercial operations began on May 10, 2007. The operator initially competed through prepaid and postpaid mobile plans marketed under the names zem and zahi. Zem was positioned for pay-as-you-go customers, while zahi represented a range of postpaid tariff plans. The brand also established business centers, franchises, sub-franchises, affinity partners, and distributors to support customer acquisition and service distribution. The company expanded quickly after launch. It passed one million customers on July 19, 2007, and continued extending its network beyond the country's major population centers. On June 10, 2008, coverage was expanded to Bandarban, Khagrachhari, and Rangamati. With those additions, Warid stated that its network covered all 64 districts of Bangladesh, making it a nationwide operator. Its infrastructure program was reported to involve an investment of approximately US$1 billion, with Ericsson selected for base stations, microwave links, information-technology support, and transmission towers. Warid's operations included mobile voice and related telecommunications services delivered through the 016 numbering range assigned to the operator. Its commercial model combined prepaid and postpaid offerings with a broad physical distribution network. The company reportedly had ten directly controlled business centers and approximately 120 franchises, supported by additional distribution arrangements. The Warid brand did not remain independent. In 2010, Warid Telecom sold a 70 percent interest in the Bangladesh operation to India's Bharti Airtel Limited for a reported US$300 million. The Bangladesh regulator approved the transaction on January 4, 2010, after which Bharti Airtel assumed management control and control of the board. The business was rebranded under the Airtel name in December 2010. Warid Telecom later sold its remaining 30 percent interest in March 2013 to Bharti Airtel Holdings Pte Limited, Bharti Airtel's Singapore-based affiliate. As a result, Warid Bangladesh ceased to operate as a standalone consumer brand and became part of Airtel's Bangladesh business.

Warid Bangladesh emerged from Warid Telecom International LLC's effort to enter the Bangladeshi mobile market. In December 2005, the Abu Dhabi-based company paid US$50 million for a GSM license issued by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. The license made Warid the country's sixth mobile operator and created the basis for a nationwide telecommunications business. Warid initially targeted an accelerated deployment timetable. In August 2006, it announced that network activation might occur ahead of schedule, but the planned launch was later postponed. The delay followed Nokia's withdrawal from a major supply agreement after a payment dispute. Rather than immediately proceed with a full commercial launch, Warid carried out a limited soft launch in late January 2007. Selected individuals received complimentary subscriptions and used the network for test calls, allowing the company to identify and correct coverage and quality issues. Commercial service began on May 10, 2007. Warid entered the market with both prepaid and postpaid offerings. Its prepaid plans were branded zem, while its postpaid portfolio used the zahi name. The operator also built a physical sales and service presence through ten company-operated business centers and around 120 franchises, supplemented by sub-franchises, affinity partners, and distributors. This structure helped Warid reach customers outside its directly managed locations. The business expanded rapidly. It passed one million customers on July 19, 2007, shortly after launch. Warid's network was built as a nationwide GSM system, with Ericsson supplying base stations, microwave links, information-technology support, and transmission towers. The reported infrastructure investment was approximately US$1 billion. On June 10, 2008, Warid added the southeastern districts of Bandarban, Khagrachhari, and Rangamati. The expansion meant that the operator claimed coverage across all 64 districts of Bangladesh and could present itself as a pan-national mobile carrier. Warid used the 016 numbering range allocated to it in Bangladesh. Its core business consisted of mobile voice and related connectivity services, supported by differentiated tariff structures for pay-as-you-go and postpaid users. The operator's competitive proposition rested on the combination of nationwide coverage, a growing customer base, and broad retail distribution. The company's independent identity changed through a two-stage ownership transaction. In 2010, Warid Telecom sold 70 percent of the Bangladesh business to Bharti Airtel Limited for a reported US$300 million. The Bangladesh regulator approved the transaction on January 4, 2010. Bharti Airtel then assumed operational and board control. In December 2010, the service was rebranded under the Airtel name, ending Warid's role as the consumer-facing brand in Bangladesh. Warid Telecom subsequently sold its remaining 30 percent holding in March 2013 to Bharti Airtel Holdings Pte Limited, a Singapore-based Bharti Airtel affiliate. Warid Bangladesh is therefore a defunct brand and former operator rather than a continuing standalone network.

1. 2013Remaining stake transferred

   Warid Telecom sold its remaining 30 percent interest to Bharti Airtel Holdings Pte Limited.

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2. 2010Bharti Airtel takes majority control

   Bharti Airtel acquired a 70 percent stake and assumed management and board control after regulatory approval.

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3. 2010Consumer rebrand to Airtel

   Warid's Bangladesh services were rebranded as Airtel Bangladesh in December.

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4. 2008Nationwide district coverage

   Expansion into Bandarban, Khagrachhari, and Rangamati brought stated network coverage to all 64 districts.

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5. 2007Commercial launch

   Warid began commercial mobile operations in Bangladesh on May 10 after a limited testing launch earlier in the year.

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6. 2007One million customers reached

   The operator crossed one million customers on July 19.

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7. 2005GSM license obtained

   Warid Telecom International LLC paid US$50 million for a Bangladeshi GSM license and became the country's sixth mobile carrier.

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A nationwide mobile telecommunications challenger that combined rapid network expansion with prepaid and postpaid plans.

• zemPrepaid mobile plans

  Warid's zem portfolio served prepaid customers using a pay-as-you-go model. The offering formed one of the brand's two principal consumer product families and was intended for users who preferred to purchase mobile usage without a recurring postpaid subscription.

• zahiPostpaid mobile plans

  The zahi range consisted of Warid's postpaid tariff plans. It complemented the prepaid zem brand and represented the operator's effort to segment its customer proposition between flexible pay-as-you-go usage and recurring postpaid service.

• Warid GSM mobile networkMobile network services2007

  Warid operated a GSM-based mobile network in Bangladesh, using the 016 numbering range. The network was expanded to all 64 districts by June 2008 and supported the operator's mobile voice and related telecommunications services.

• 2013Transfer of the remaining minority interestM&A

  Warid Telecom retained a 30 percent interest after Bharti Airtel's initial acquisition.

  What changed. Warid Telecom sold the remaining 30 percent to Bharti Airtel Holdings Pte Limited.

  Aftermath. The ownership transition was completed within the Bharti Airtel group.

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• 2010Sale of a majority stake to Bharti AirtelM&A

  Warid Telecom sought a change in ownership for its Bangladesh mobile operation after establishing a nationwide network and customer base.

  What changed. Warid Telecom sold 70 percent of the company to Bharti Airtel Limited for a reported US$300 million. The transaction received regulatory approval on January 4, 2010, and Bharti Airtel assumed management and board control.

  Aftermath. The business was rebranded as Airtel Bangladesh in December 2010, ending Warid's standalone consumer-brand presence.

  Reported transaction value. US$300 million (2010)

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• 2010Rebranding under AirtelStrategy

  Bharti Airtel took operational and board control of the former Warid Bangladesh business after acquiring a majority stake.

  What changed. The company replaced the Warid consumer identity with the Airtel Bangladesh brand in December 2010.

  Aftermath. Warid Bangladesh ceased operating as an independent consumer brand, while the Bangladesh business continued under Airtel.

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• 2013Warid Telecom sells its remaining Bangladesh stake

  Warid Telecom transferred its remaining 30 percent interest to Bharti Airtel Holdings Pte Limited, completing the change in ownership.

  M&A
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• 2010Bharti Airtel acquires a majority stake in Warid Bangladesh

  Bharti Airtel Limited acquired a 70 percent interest in the Bangladeshi operator for a reported US$300 million. Regulatory approval was granted on January 4, 2010.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2010Warid services are rebranded as Airtel Bangladesh

  After Bharti Airtel took management and board control, the Warid service brand was replaced by Airtel Bangladesh in December 2010.

  M&A
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• 2008Warid completes coverage of all 64 Bangladeshi districts

  Network expansion to Bandarban, Khagrachhari, and Rangamati brought Warid's stated coverage to every district in Bangladesh.

  Other
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• 2007Warid begins commercial operations

  Following a limited testing phase, Warid commercially launched its GSM mobile service in Bangladesh on May 10, 2007.

  Product launch
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• 2007Warid surpasses one million customers

  The operator reported crossing the one-million-subscriber threshold on July 19, only a few months after its commercial launch.

  Other
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• 2006Warid delays its planned network launch

  The planned 2006 activation was postponed after Nokia withdrew from a supplier agreement in connection with a payment dispute.

  Other
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• 2005Warid secures a GSM license and becomes Bangladesh's sixth mobile carrier

  Warid Telecom International LLC paid US$50 million for a GSM license from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, establishing the operator's entry into the Bangladeshi market.

  Other
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1. Warid Bangladesh