Grameen Telecom: A Beacon of Women Empowerment in Rural Bangladesh

• Miscellaneous
• 21st November 2023
• YC

Press Release (21 November 2023)

Dhaka, 21 November 2023

Back in 1997 mobile telephone was a product of high level luxury in the context of urban areas of Bangladesh and any where else in the world. It was a fairytale for rural areas of Bangladesh. Telephone service of any kind hardly existed in rural areas. In urban area it was a rarity. With  success of microcredit program with rural poor, Professor Muhammad Yunus came up with an idea to set up at least one publicly available phone in one village to serve the necessary demand of telephone services by extending Grameen Phone net work to cover all villages of Bangladesh. . This phone was made available to public for a fee by a Grameen Bank borrower known as Telephone Lady.  

Grameen Telecom, a pioneering force in the realm of rural technology development, stands as a testament to the transformative power of connectivity for rural women.  Established in 1997, Grameen Telecom, as a Social Business (a not-for-profit Company), has been instrumental in bridging the digital divide and fostering socio-economic progress in remote communities across Bangladesh and became the pioneer in the whole world.

Grameen Telecom launched its fascinating program, Village Phone on March 26, 1997, with a vision to bridge the technological gap between urban and rural Bangladesh through affordable mobile technology. This program was uniquely designed only for Grameen Bank borrowers.

Village Phone was also introduced as a unique tool to alleviate poverty with entrepreneurship skills of Grameen Bank female members. 

Village Phone program launched with only 24 subscribers in 1997 and by the end of June 2016 the program has a total of over 17 lakh subscribers in Bangladesh. Now the  widespread availability of  mobile technology and service makes mobile phone available to anybody any where in Bangladesh. 

History of Grameen Telecom: Founded with a visionary commitment to making telecommunications accessible to all, Grameen Telecom initiated its journey with a focus on empowering rural populations, particularly women. Its flagship initiative, the Village Phone Program, became a cornerstone in leveraging mobile technology for economic and social upliftment. Collaborating with GrameenPhone, the program empowered rural women entrepreneurs, allowing them to offer vital communication services within their communities.

Village Phone Priogramme Received many Awards and Accolades for its creativity and contribution to women empowerment. :

1. CAPAM Bronze Award for Service to the Public (1998): Grameen Telecom's dedication to public service was honored with the CAPAM Bronze Award by the Commonwealth Association of Public Administration & Management, based in London, UK, in 1998, highlighting its outstanding contributions to the well-being of communities.

2. GSM Community Service" (1998): In 1998, Grameen Telecom was bestowed with the "GSM Community Service" award by the GSM Association, an association of 750 mobile operators worldwide based in London, UK. This recognition acknowledges its pioneering efforts in leveraging mobile technology for the betterment of society.

3. Petersburg Prize for Use of the IT to improve Poor People’s Lives in 2004:Grameen Telecom's impactful use of information technology to enhance the lives of the underprivileged earned the organization the prestigious Petersburg Prize in 2004.

4. First ITU World Information Society Award (2005):Grameen Telecom's visionary initiatives in promoting information society and bridging digital divides led to the organization being honored with the first ITU World Information Society award by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, 2005.

Bangladesh’s Telephone Lady Programme at the National Museum of Scotland:

• The groundbreaking success of Bangladesh's Telephone Lady Programme, a hallmark initiative of Grameen Telecom, has been acknowledged on the global stage. A testament to its significance, the program has found a place of honor at the National Museum of Scotland, where it stands as a symbol of empowerment and progress. This recognition underscores the program's historical importance in leveraging telecommunications for the betterment of rural communities.

• National Museum of Scotland located in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland has opened ten new galleries in 2016 and one of them is on “Telephone Lady” of Bangladesh. The exhibition was officially launched on July 08, 2016 under the Science and Technology gallery.

• National Museum of Scotland reached out to Grameen Telecom in February, 2015 with their interest in Village Phone. Grameen Telecom sent case studies,  newsletters, guide book and a range of equipments that was being used by a Telephone Lady during 1997 to 2000 to operate her phone business. The display includes Nokia handset, GSM Tester and a Signboard Stand.

Looking Forward: As Grameen Telecom continues to evolve, it remains dedicated to its mission of empowering the underserved and fostering inclusive development. The organization looks forward to further collaborations, innovations, and positive strides in the journey towards a more connected, prosperous rural Bangladesh.