AKTEL, the third largest mobile phone operator has introduced a ‘call block’ service, by which its customers can enjoy independence on whether they receive unsolicited calls or not.
Now Aktel’s customers do not need to turn off their phone just to avoid unnecessary interruptions. They can just leave it to call block to filter all incoming calls.
Aktel’s move to introduce such service, which may reduce incoming calls to its network, was mainly taken following complains of fake voice calls by mobile users.
"This launch is yet another small step to come even closer to the people of Bangladesh, and win their hearts through developing truly customer-oriented products and services," said Jefri Ahmad Tambi, chief executive officer of Aktel.
At the launching ceremony yesterday in Dhaka, Tambi said his company would bring more products to the market, within a short time, to educate users about the call block service.
AKTEL of TM International Bangladesh (TMIB) with major stakes controlled by Telekom Malaysia has been introducing value added services, one after another, at a time when it is struggling to maintain its position in the extremely competitive Bangladesh market.
The operator is yet to regain its second position, lost to Banglalink last year.
In the six months to June 2008, AKTEL’s total subscribers rose by 22 percent to 7.85 million.
Meanwhile its nearest competitor Banglalink recorded a 33 percent rise to 9.46 million subscribers during the same period.
By the end of June this year, total mobile phone subscribers stood at 43.7 million, Grameenphone controls nearly half of which, according to official data.
With an aim to fight back, AKTEL and it’s would be partner NTT DoCoMo said in June it would introduce ‘3G’ (3rd generation) technology to compete in the Bangladesh market.
In mid June 2008, NTT DoCoMo, one of the leading operators in Japan, said it would buy the Bangladeshi AK Khan and Company’s 30 percent stake in AKTEL for $350 million. The deal is expected close by the end of 2008, DoCoMo said.
AKTEL said over 90 percent of its total subscribers constitute prepaid users with whom the company wants to share ‘the joy of friendship’ during this month.
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