Worldwide, digital cell phones are less than a decade old. Grameen Bank insists that it is not subsidising the rural phone network but operating it on a commercial basis. Telecom experts cite Bangladesh as an outstanding success story in wireless rural telephony. According to GrameenPhone managers, rural pay phones operators are provided more facilities than mobile phones users in the urban areas. There are guarantees and maintenance facilities.
Some rules have to be observed.
A village pay phone operator cannot transfer the instrument to anyone living in a city. Though the operator can carry her phone around, it has to be kept at her home for a specified period each day, so that it is accessible to callers. The village pay phone has not only helped bridge the gap between rural and urban areas, these have also earned popularity and respect for the women operators. I'm now better known in our area. People respect me more.