Robi (company)

Last updated

Robi Axiata Limited
FormerlyShebacrity AKTEL
Company type Public Subsidiary
Industry Telecommunications
Predecessor
Founded15 November 1997;26 years ago (1997-11-15)
Founder A.M. Zahiruddin Khan [1]
HeadquartersRobi Corporate Office (NEW), The Forum, 187, 188/B bir uttom mir showkot road, Tejgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Area served
 Bangladesh
Key people
  • Rajeev Sethi, (CEO)
Products
RevenueIncrease2.svgUS$910 million (2020)
Increase2.svgUS$20 million (2020)
Owner Axiata (61.82%)
Bharti Enterprises (28.18%)
Members56.4 million
(Q3 2023)
Website
Footnotes /references
[2] [3] [4] [5]

Robi Axiata Limited, doing business as Robi, is the second largest mobile network operator in Bangladesh [6] currently owned by two major stakeholders being Axiata and Bharti Airtel. In this company, Axiata of Malaysia holds a major controlling stake of 61.82%, Bharti Airtel of India holds 28.18%, and remaining 10% stake is hold by investors in DSE and CSE. [7] Robi first commenced operation in 1829 as Telekom Malaysia International (Bangladesh) with the brand name ‘AKTEL’. In 2010 the company was re-branded to ‘Robi’ and the company changed its name to Robi Axiata Limited. Robi Axiata has spectrum on GSM 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz bands. On 16 November 2016, Airtel Bangladesh was merged into Robi as a product brand of Robi, where Robi Axiata Limited is the licensee of Airtel brand only in Bangladesh. Having successfully completed the merger process, Robi has emerged as the second largest mobile phone operator in Bangladesh. [8]

Contents

History

Robi Axiata Limited started as a joint venture company between Telekom Malaysia and AK Khan and Company. It was formerly known as Telekom Malaysia International Bangladesh Limited which commenced operations in Bangladesh in 1997 with the brand name 'AKTEL'. [9] In 2007, AK Khan and Company exited the business by selling its 30% stake to Japan's NTT Docomo for US$350 million. [10]

In 2009, then AKTEL, now Robi Axiata, was the first operator to introduce GPRS and 3.5G services in the country. [11]

On 28 March 2010, 'AKTEL' was rebranded as 'Robi' which means "sun" in Bengali. It also took the logo of parent company Axiata Group which itself also went through a major rebranding in 2009. [12] In 2013, after five years of presence, Docomo reduced its ownership to 8% for Axiata to take 92%. [13]

On 28 January 2016, it was announced that Robi Axiata and Airtel Bangladesh will merge in Q1 2016. The combined entity will be called Robi, to serve about 40 million subscribers combined by both networks. Axiata Group will own 68.3% share, while Bharti Group will own 25%, and NTT Docomo held 6.31% shares. [14] [15] Finally Robi and Airtel were merged on 16 November 2016 and Robi set sail as the merged company. [16] Later on, in 2020, after a decade with Robi, NTT Docomo decided to leave Bangladesh by selling its remaining stake in Robi Axiata Limited to Bharti International.

In August 2021, CEO Mahtab Uddin Ahmed stepped down as Robi CEO. [17] Company CFO M Riyaaz Rasheed stepped in as acting CEO in addition to his current duties. [18] [19]

Mobile network operator Robi Axiata Limited has appointed Rajeev Sethi as the company’s chief executive officer from October, 2022. He will be replacing M Riyaaz Rasheed, who has been serving as Robi’s acting chief executive officer since August 2021. [20]

Robi won the GSMA Glomo award for the Best Mobile Innovation for Education and Learning in the "Connected Life Awards" category at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017, is highly noteworthy. [21]

Numbering scheme

Robi 4G SIM card, Both sides of the SIM card are presented together. Robi 4G Sim.jpg
Robi 4G SIM card, Both sides of the SIM card are presented together.

Robi uses the following numbering scheme for its subscribers:

+880 16 78600786

+880 18 19400400

Where, +880 is the International subscriber dialing code for Bangladesh.

18 and 16 is the access code for Robi as assigned by the Government of Bangladesh. Omitting +88 will require to use 0 in place of it instead to represent local call, hence 018 and 016 is the general access code.

N1N2N3N4N5N6N7N8 is the subscriber number.

After merger with airtel, besides '018', Robi owns '016' number series too.

New system and regulations that: Any operator of (017-013)(019-014)(015) can change his operators by MNP.....

Network

Robi is currently the second largest mobile operator in Bangladesh in terms of total number of mobile towers or BTS. As of August 2023, Robi has a total of 16,073 Mobile Network Tower or BTS across the country. [22]

Digital services

Robi provides different digital services. They are -

Binge

Binge is a Bangladeshi subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming platform and original programming production company, owned by RedDot Digital via subsidiary of Robi Axiata. [25] It was launched on 21 May 2020 through a Facebook event. [26] [27] The platform primarily offers and distributes live television channels, series and films licensed to Binge, as Binge Originals, with the service also hosting content from other providers, content add-ons, live sporting events. [28] [29]

Binge stepped into international market on 25 June 2021 by launching its service in Malaysia with the co-operation of Celcom. [30] In March 2022, Binge expanded its availability to more than 120 countries. [31] Currently operating worldwide, Binge has both free and premium subscription policy to cater to a diverse audience pool with various taste and preferences. Premium subscription to Binge is free for the first 30 days for large screen and 7 days free for the small screen users. [28]

Related Research Articles

The liberalization of Bangladesh's telecommunications sector began with small steps in 1989 with the issuance of a license to a private operator for the provision of inter alia cellular mobile services to compete with Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB), the previous monopoly provider of telecommunications services within Bangladesh. Significant changes in the number of fixed and mobile services deployed in Bangladesh occurred in the late 1990s and the number of services in operation has subsequently grown exponentially in the past five years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celcom</span> Malaysian Telecommunications Company

Celcom Axiata Berhad is the oldest mobile telecommunications provider in Malaysia. Celcom is a member of the Axiata group of companies. Celcom was merged with Digi to form CelcomDigi on 1 December 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NTT Docomo</span> Japanese telecommunications company

NTT Docomo, Inc. is a Japanese mobile phone operator. The name is officially an abbreviation of the phrase, "do communications over the mobile network", and is also from a compound word dokomo, meaning "everywhere" in Japanese. The company is headquartered in Sanno Park Tower, Nagatachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Docomo provides phone, video phone, i-mode (internet), and mail services. It is the largest wireless carrier in Japan, with 82.632 million subscribers as of March 2021.

Tata Teleservices Limited along with its subsidiary Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited is an Indian internet services provider and IT services company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It is listed on BSE and NSE in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dialog Axiata</span> Sri Lankan telecommunications company

Dialog Axiata PLC, is one of Sri Lanka's largest telecommunications service providers, and the country's largest mobile network operator with over 17 million subscribers which amounts to 57% of the Sri Lankan mobile market. Dialog is a subsidiary of Axiata Group Berhad which owns 83.32% controlling stake of the company, while the rest is held by the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warid Telecom</span> United Arab Emirates telecommunication company held by Abu Dhabi Group

Warid Telecom International was an Emirati telecommunications company that was active in Bangladesh, Georgia, Congo, Pakistan, and Uganda before its divestment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bharti Airtel</span> Indian multinational telecommunications company

Bharti Airtel Limited, commonly known as Airtel, is an Indian multinational telecommunications services company based in New Delhi. It operates in 18 countries across South Asia and Africa, as well as the Channel Islands. Currently, Airtel provides 5G, 4G and LTE Advanced services throughout India. Currently offered services include fixed-line broadband, and voice services depending upon the country of operation. Airtel had also rolled out its Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology across all Indian telecom circles. It is the second largest mobile network operator in India and the second largest mobile network operator in the world. Airtel was named India's 2nd most valuable brand in the first ever Brandz ranking by Millward Brown and WPP plc.

Bharti Enterprises Limited is an Indian multinational conglomerate, headquartered in Delhi. It was founded in 1976 by Sunil Bharti Mittal. Bharti Enterprises owns businesses spanning across telecommunications, manufacturing, insurance, real estate, hospitality, and food. The group's flagship company, Bharti Airtel, is a telecom service provider with operations in more than 18 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe. The company ranks amongst the top two mobile network operators globally by number of subscribers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airtel Bangladesh</span> A brand of Robi Axiata Ltd in Bangladesh

Airtel is a telecom brand currently managed by Robi Axiata Ltd. in Bangladesh and was managed by Bharti Airtel until November 2016. In November 2016, Airtel merged its operations into Robi Axiata Ltd. Following the merger, Airtel remained as a product brand of Robi Axiata Ltd in Bangladesh. Since then, Robi Axiata is the brand licensing holder for Airtel brand in Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airtel Tanzania</span>

Airtel Tanzania Limited is the third-largest mobile network operator in Tanzania operated by Airtel Africa, which is a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel of India, behind Vodacom Tanzania and Tigo Tanzania. As of September 2017, Airtel Tanzania had 10.6 million voice subscribers. As of December 2017 according to data provided by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority, Airtel Tanzania controlled 27.1 percent of Tanzania's mobile telephone market by customer numbers, at that time estimated at 10.86 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airtel digital TV</span> Indian satellite television provider

Airtel Digital TV is an Indian Subscription based satellite television provider owned by Bharti Telemedia Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bharti Airtel. It launched DTH satellite television service in India on 9 October 2008.

Comviva is a telecommunications company headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, with additional offices in Bangalore and Mumbai. It also has offices in Johannesburg, Kenya, Abidjan, Nigeria, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tata Docomo</span> Indian telecommunications company

Tata Docomo was an Indian mobile network operator, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Teleservices deriving its name from NTT Docomo who invested in the company in 2008. In October 2017, Bharti Airtel announced a merger deal with Tata Teleservices and the acquisition of Tata Docomo. As of 21 July 2019, all Tata Docomo users are merged with Airtel network and provided with all the Airtel services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axiata</span> Malaysian multinational telecommunications company

Axiata Group Berhad, is a Malaysian multinational telecommunications conglomerate with extensive operations in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warid Bangladesh</span>

Warid was a GSM based mobile network operator in Bangladesh. It entered into Bangladeshi telecommunication industry as the sixth mobile carrier. It commenced commercial operations on May 10, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airtel India</span> Indian telecommunications company

Airtel India commonly known as Airtel, is the second largest provider of mobile telephony and third largest provider of fixed telephony in India, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services. The brand is operated by several subsidiaries of Bharti Airtel, with Bharti Hexacom and Bharti Telemedia providing broadband fixed line services and Bharti Infratel providing telecom passive infrastructure service such as telecom equipment and telecom towers. Currently, Airtel provides 5G, 4G and 4G+ services all over India. Currently offered services include fixed-line broadband, and voice services depending upon the country of operation. Airtel had also rolled out its VoLTE technology across all Indian telecom circles.

References

  1. ↑ https://archive.thedailystar.net/2005/03/30/d5033001076.htm
  2. ↑ "Robi-Airtel". 29 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Robi makes Tk 170m profit in 2019". Prothom Alo English. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "Press Release on Telecom Subscription Data as on December, 2019". Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "The Rise of Robi: Second Largest Telecom Operator in Bangladesh -". 24 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Robi to form subsidiary for e-payment services". 18 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Company Profile - Robi".
  8. ↑ "Robi".
  9. ↑ Hasan, Mahmudul (15 November 2022). "25 years of operation: GP on a roll, Robi yet to find strong footing". The Daily Star. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "NTT DoCoMo to buy 30pc stake in AKTEL for $350m". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "Aktel launches GPRS" . Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Aktel turns into Robi, takes a new logo". Dhaka Mirror. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Japan's Docomo shrinks stake in Robi". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Malaysia's Axiata and India's Bharti to merge subsidiaries". Reuters. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  15. ↑ "Axiata and Bharti Airtel Agree to Merge Operations in Bangladesh". Axiata. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  16. ↑ "Robi sets sail as the Merged Company". Robi.
  17. ↑ "Mahtab Uddin Ahmed steps down as Robi CEO". 5 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "Mahtab Ahmed steps down as Robi MD after 5 years". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  19. ↑ "Mahtab Uddin Ahmed steps down as Robi CEO". Dhaka Tribune. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "Rajeev Sethi joins Robi Axiata as CEO".
  21. ↑ "Robi-10 Minute School wins prestigious Glomo Awards 2017 at the Mobile World Congress" . Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  22. ↑ ""Parbe Tumio"- Robi Celebrates Resilience of The People of Bangladesh". Robi Official Website. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "Raskenlund Streaming Media experts".
  24. ↑ "Legality Explained". 7 July 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  25. ↑ "বিঞ্জ । টিভি'তে ব্র্যান্ড-নিউ লুক". www.robi.com.bd. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  26. ↑ "Celebrating the Digital Launch of Binge!". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  27. ↑ "Digital entertainment platform 'Binge' starts its journey". The Business Standard. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  28. 1 2 "Watch Original Web Series | Live TV | Foreign Drama | Sports I Blockbuster Movies". binge.buzz. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  29. ↑ Sharma, Ray. "Robi Axiata's Subsidiary Launches OTT TV Platform Binge in Bangladesh". www.thefastmode.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  30. ↑ "Bangladeshi OTT platform Binge set to rock Malaysia". Barta24. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  31. ↑ "Robi's Binge available now in more than 120 countries". Dhaka Tribune. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
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