WorldTel

WorldTel Limited was established in January 1995 as part of an International Telecommunications Union initiative to help mobilize development of the telecommunications sector in developing countries. The primary catalyst for its creation was a McKinsey & Co. report recommending creation of a separate company for this purpose. Sam Pitroda, who developed the telecommunications services in India, became its first chairman in May 1995.[1] In 1996, $10 million of financing was announced, along with plans for 50 million telephone lines.[2] WorldTel UK was awarded a 2001 license for services in Bangladesh.[3] In 2004 Swedtel, based in Stockholm, was purchased by WorldTel UK Limited.[4]

In November 2007, Mohammad Nayeem Mehtab Chowdhury of WorldTel Bangladesh Holdings was arrested for allegedly forging the signature of Pitroda and withdrawing money from banks illegally that was intended for investment.[5] In April 2008, WorldTel Bangladesh announced that Chowdhury was released and cleared of charges, and it would start service "soon" in Dhaka.[6] In 2010, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission raided the offices of WorldTel Bangladesh and seized voice over IP equipment.[7] Around 2007 the UK company no longer filed financial statements, and was dissolved in 2011.[8] The company maintained a web site through about 2010.[9]

References
  1. "Interin Board of Directors Elects Mr. Sam Pitroda as Chairman". Press release. ITU. 15 May 1995. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  2. "Worldtel gets US$10 Million in Initial Funds". Fiber Optics Weekly Update. 12 July 1996. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  3. "WorldTel Group Promotion". Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  4. "Working around the globe". Former web site. Swedtel. Archived from the original on 8 December 2004.
  5. "WorldTel boss Nayeem arrested for swindling". The Daily Star. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  6. "WorldTel Bangladesh: where there's a WiLL there's a way…". 28 April 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  7. "More VoIP equipment seized: BTRC to take action against WorldTel". The Daily Star. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  8. "Worldtel Limited". Duedil.com. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  9. "This is WorldTel". Archived from the original on January 4, 2010.


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