Grameenphone and Telenor Group gather local and global partners to debate empowerment of society and Internet for All in Dhaka on Saturday 8 March 2014.

Internet for All means enabling access through networks and devices, but also offering content that is relevant and useful to mass market consumers. Telenor Group and Grameenphone gather global and local partners, Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and tech-savvy youth to an exchange of ideas in Dhaka on Saturday 8 March 2014.

Mobile connectivity has brought mobile phones, and with them individual freedom and greater livelihood opportunities, into the hands of millions of people from every walk of life. Greater connectivity means accelerated GDP growth and new business creation, and the mobile industry has already spurred the establishment of a strong ICT sector in Bangladesh.

As data connectivity goes mobile people, business and society stand to benefit. With last year's spectrum auction and ongoing roll-out of nationwide 3G services, networks are being put in place to offer the speed and quality needed for mobile internet in every corner of Bangladesh. Cheaper and smarter devices enable mass market consumers to get their hands on apps, games and browsers. As a result, urban Bangladesh is among the fastest growing user groups on social media, like Facebook, today.

Still, 50% of the people of Bangladesh do not have a mobile connection. Only 30% of the total subscriber base uses mobile internet. We are investing billions into building networks, but many of those who stand to gain the most are not aware of what they are missing. Getting Bangladesh's budding entrepreneurs and vast rural population online, and enabling them to take advantage of education, healthcare, financial and e-government services, will be a shot in the arm for the economy and a life-changing endeavor for almost 80 million people.

Gathering its global and local partners in the mobile ecosystem to a an exchange of ideas and search for possible solutions, Telenor Group and Grameenphone invite everyone passionate about building a digital future for Bangladesh to join an open and frank discussion with companies like Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft and Wikipedia.
 
Panelists:

• Munir Hasan, President, Wikimedia Bangladesh
• Vivek Sood, CEO, Grameenphone
• Håkon Bruaset Kjøl, Senior Vice President, Telenor Group
• Raihan Shamsi, CEO, Accenture, Bangladesh
• Mostafa Aminur Rashid, Chairman, Symphony
• Sonia Bashir Kabir, CEO, DELL, Bangladesh
• Shameem Ahsan- President, BASIS
• Ahteram Uddin, Opera
• Nesar Maksud Khan, Director, DCCI
• M.  A. Mobin Khan, CEO, EATL

The panel session has been moderated by Naveed Mahbub.

Corporate Communications
Grameenphone Ltd.
Phone: 9882990