Will Etisalat answer Warid Telecom's Bangladesh call?

Abu Dhabi Group-backed Warid Telecom is making a valiant push for more market share in Bangladesh but it may need Etisalat's help to make that happen.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press event this past week, Warid chief executive Muneer Farooqui told the Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star that he wanted to triple the company's subscriber base in the country - but admitted he needs a strong financial partner to make that goal a reality.

"We are willing to invite a partner, as a huge investment is required to take our operations to next level," said Mr Farooqui.

Warid currently holds a 2.5 million subscriber base in the country after only two years, about a 7 per cent market share. It has spent about US$600 million in the Bangladesh market but it has only managed to place them fourth in a crowded telecoms sector -Grameenphone, Banglalink and AKTEL are collectively said to own 90 per cent of the market.

Taking the company to under 8 million users within three years will certainly take a hefty amount of pocket change, a risk that not every telecoms company may be willing to take. The article cites that several companies, such as SingTel, Vodafone and Etisalat, have approached Ward to form a partnership in Bangladesh, but Mr Farooqui said no deals have been finalised.

Short of a merger or partnership, Warid will continue to eke out a decent stake in the country's mobile market. Penetration in Bangladesh is a scant 30 per cent, leaving plenty of room for operators to gain subscribers.