:Banglalink

Sheba Telecom (Pvt.) Ltd. was granted license in 1989, to operate in the rural areas of 199 upazilas.{{cite book |last=Alam |first=Mahbubul |year=2012 |chapter=Telecommunication |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Telecommunication |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh}} The company started providing GSM service in 1998.{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-28574 |title=Orascom Telecom Bangladesh new name of Sheba |work=The Daily Star |date=20 March 2008}}

In July 2004, an Egypt-based company, Orascom Telecom (currently Global Telecom Holding), purchased Sheba Telecom and formed Banglalink brand, as sheba telecom failed to tap the business potentials in Bangladesh mainly due to a chronic feud between its Malaysian and Bangladeshi partners. The purchasing value was US$60 million, of which US$50 million for share value and US$10 million was for financial debt.{{cite web |url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2004/09/06/orascom-acquires-sheba-telecom/ |title=Orascom acquires Sheba Telecom}}

Integrated Services Ltd. (ISL), the Bangladeshi partner, was being 'officially' shown as purchasing the shares held by Technology Resources Industries (TRI) of Malaysia for $15 million. ISL then paid another $10 million to Standard Chartered Bank to settle Sheba's liabilities.

In September 2004, Orascom Telecom Holdings (currently Global Telecom Holding) purchased 100% of the shares of Sheba Telecom (Pvt.) Limited. It was acquired for US$60 million. Sheba had a base of 59,000 users, of whom 49,000 were regular when it was sold.{{cite web|url=http://www.cellular.co.za/news_2004/july/071604-egyptian_co_sweeps_sheba_telecom.htm|title=Egyptian Orascom Gets Sheba Telecom Malaysian stake|access-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929022458/http://www.cellular.co.za/news_2004/july/071604-egyptian_co_sweeps_sheba_telecom.htm|archive-date=29 September 2007|url-status=dead}} Afterward it was re-branded and launched its services under the "Banglalink" brand on 10 February 2005.

In March 2008, Sheba Telecom (Pvt.) Limited changed its name to Orascom Telecom Bangladesh Limited, matching its parent company name.

In July 2013, following the 2011 ownership restructuring in the parent company,{{cite web |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2011/04/18/vimpelcom-confirms-closing-of-large-and-complex-wind-telecom-deal/ |title=Vimpelcom confirms closing of 'large and complex' Wind Telecom deal |publisher=TeleGeography |access-date=18 October 2015}} the company name changed for the second time to Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd.

In 2018, Netherlands based Veon Ltd (previously known as Vimpelcom) acquired Banglalink as wholly owned subsidiary.{{cite web |title=VEON announces two major transactions and sets immediate strategic priorities |url=https://www.veon.com/newsroom/press-releases/veon-announces-two-major-transactions-and-sets-immediate-strategic-priorities/ |access-date=3 July 2018 |publisher=Veon Press Release}}

In 2024 Banglalink sold out its tower assets to Summit Towers Ltd.{{cite web |url=https://www.veon.com/newsroom/press-releases/veon-and-summit-complete-usd-100m-deal-for-bangladesh-towers-portfolio/ |title=VEON and Summit Complete USD 100m Deal for Bangladesh Towers Portfolio |publisher=Veon Press Release |access-date=31 January 2024}}

Banglalink uses the following numbering scheme:

+88019N₁N₂N₃N₄N₅N₆N₇N₈ & +88014N₁N₂N₃N₄N₅N₆N₇N₈

Where '+880' is the ISD code for Bangladesh and is needed only in case of dialing from outside Bangladesh.

'19' & '14' are the access codes for Banglalink as allocated by the Government of Bangladesh. Omitting +880 will require using 0 in place of it instead to represent local call, hence 019 & 014 are the general access codes. N₁N₂N₃N₄N₅N₆N₇N₈ is the subscriber number.

In 2018, when mobile number portability was introduced, users acquired the ability to port to any operator without changing its number.{{cite web | url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bytes/how-to-use-mnp-service-for-mobile-operators-in-bangladesh-1644121 | title=Everything you need to know about Mobile Number Portability | date=8 October 2018 }}{{cite news |title=Switch to any operator |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/switch-any-operator-1640593 |work=The Daily Star (Bangladesh) |date=30 September 2018 |language=en}}

Banglalink is the third-largest mobile operator of the country. {{As of|2023|2}}, Banglalink had a total number of 14,500 base transceiver station (BTS) across the country.{{Cite news |date=2023-02-06 |title=Banglalink deployed 4,000 new towers in 2022 |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/tech-startup/news/banglalink-deployed-4000-new-towers-2022-3240546 |access-date=2023-08-12 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}

Under national roaming,

Banglalink users can use teletalk network if Banglalink's network is weak or has no signal. This feature is now in trial mode.

Banglalink will use total 20,600 Mobile Network Tower to serve customers under national roaming network of Banglalink & Teletalk.

Banglalink has international roaming facilities.

Banglalink Enterprise{{cite web|url=http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=16023&email=html|title=Banglalink rolls out GPRS and gets personal with businesses|access-date=17 July 2015}} offers a wide range of products and services to suit the needs of the business community. It was first launched in December 2006. The current packages are:

• Enterprise corporate; targeted at the corporate segment
• Enterprise SME; targeted at the SME segment
• Enterprise personal

Before the launch of Banglalink enterprise, Banglalink served the business clientele through a similar platform named Banglalink professional.

Banglalink delivers customer care using its call centers and customer care networks. Currently, Banglalink provides customer care services to its clients through:

• Banglalink sales & care centres
• Banglalink pointsImage:Blpoint.jpg.]] Banglalink Points are aimed at providing connections, handsets, accessories and provide selected customer services like SIM replacement, reconnection, bill payment etc. They are located at key points around the country.[http://banglalinkgsm.com/html1/bl_point.php banglalink points] Kallol Group, a local distribution company, had partnered with Banglalink to operate at least forty Banglalink points throughout the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.kallolgroup.com/business.html|title=Kallol Group of Companies|access-date=17 July 2015}} As of March 2008, the deal with Kallol Group has been called off and Banglalink is focusing on managing its own customer care centers.
• Banglalink service points
• Banglalink care lines are call centres.

In October 2007, BTRC fined Banglalink BDT 1.25 billion for its involvement in illegal VoIP or call termination business. The then BTRC chairman, major general (retd.) Manzurul Alam, confirmed Banglalink's involvement in the illegal trade. In a statement issued by Banglalink, the company agreed to make a one-time fixed payment of Tk. 1.25 billion to the government as compensation for its loss in revenues.{{cite news |title=Banglalink fined Tk 125cr for illegal VoIP business |newspaper=The Daily Star |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=7628 |access-date=17 July 2015}}

{{reflist|colwidth=33em}}

• [https://www.banglalink.net/en official website]

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{{VimpelCom Ltd.}}

{{Mobile network operators of Bangladesh}}

Category:Communications in Bangladesh

Category:Mobile phone companies of Bangladesh

Category:Telecommunications companies of Bangladesh

Category:VEON

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1999