BillPay Centres Open in Bangladesh

With BillPay PDB customers in the port city of Chittagong may pay their bills electronically at any GP authorized BillPay centre.

Universal access

It is a reliable, quick and convenient service ensuring end-to-end transparency and ultimate convenience for the electricity consumers. This is the first time a mobile phone operator has launched such a service with "universal access" for all citizens: equal service to "anybody", with a mobile phone from "any operator". In fact, even a PDB consumer without a mobile phone can access the service.

Simplifying the electricity bill payment process

The solution is driven by the motivation of GP and PDB to simplify the electricity bill payment process and thus do away with the problems associated with standing in long queues, travelling, limited payment hours and various post- payment hassles.

"PDB is the first public sector enterprise to have taken up such a customer-focused initiative to simplify the bill payment system for electricity consumers by using Grameenphone's technology," said PDB Chairman ANM Rizwan. "I hope that the flexibility, ease of use and transparency in the BillPay system will be appreciated by the customers, and that PDB will gradually spread the service across the country."

More than 200 authorized GP BillPay Centres

PDB "Residential" and "Commercial" customers in the Chittagong Metropolitan Area are now able to pay their Electricity Bills at over 200 authorized GP "BillPay" centres. "This is a practical demonstration of how the private and public sectors can work together with a common goal to efficiently serve the people of Bangladesh," said Grameenphone Managing Director Erik Aas. "Initiatives like these are likely to drive a positive social change in the country."

During the initial period, PDB's 3,00,000 Chittagong customers will enjoy access to BillPay centres at convenient locations, open from 9am-9pm every day. Customers will get an immediate confirmation of bills being paid correctly from PDB. They will also be able to query present and past bill status instantly via SMS or receive assistance from the most modern and dedicated call centre.

Ensuring transparency

Grameenphone is using its extensive distribution network and proven technology to help automate PDB bill collection infrastructure in Bangladesh. Grameenphone feels that this not only helps make billing paying easier, it is also a convenience that, once expanded towards its potential, can make a big impact on and potentially change the lives of a lot of people in the country. Today's billing systems are manual, increasing the chance of human error, and subscribers often have to take the bill receipt to the respective authorities to correct or expedite the transaction.