Pakistan’s homegrown OTT platform Tapmad has officially expanded to Bangladesh through a strategic partnership with Grameenphone, one of the country’s leading telecom operators. The collaboration marks a significant step in Tapmad’s regional growth strategy as it aims to reach millions of new users in South Asia. Initially focusing on live sports streaming, the partnership will make premium sports content easily accessible to Bangladeshi audiences through multiple digital touchpoints, including the MyGP app, Tapmad’s official mobile app, and its website.
As part of this expansion, Tapmad is offering a rich selection of live sports programming featuring global and regional tournaments such as the Premier League, Asia Cup, MMA, PFL, and upcoming international cricket tours. The service allows users to subscribe through weekly or monthly packages using their mobile balance, a model designed to suit the payment habits of local consumers. This approach eliminates the challenges associated with credit card or online payment systems, ensuring broader reach and convenience. The partnership reflects both companies’ shared vision to enhance the digital entertainment experience across emerging markets where mobile connectivity is the primary gateway to content consumption.
Yassir Pasha, CEO of Tapmad, described the move as a defining milestone in the company’s journey toward becoming a regional OTT player. He emphasized that expanding into Bangladesh aligns with Tapmad’s long-term goal of providing quality streaming services beyond Pakistan. COO Aly Rana called Bangladesh a fast-growing market with immense potential, adding that Tapmad aims to offer an international streaming experience with a local touch to resonate with Bangladeshi audiences. From Grameenphone’s side, Zahiduz Zaman, Head of Digital Platform, Payment & Partnership, said that the partnership complements Grameenphone’s ambition to deliver next-generation digital experiences to its users by integrating entertainment into their mobile ecosystem.
While Tapmad enters a highly competitive Bangladeshi OTT market that already includes local players like Tamashaa, Myco, and BJ Sports, its leadership believes that the platform’s ad-free interface, premium sports rights, and telecom-backed accessibility will provide a strong advantage. Ramiz Ahmed Sumro, Tapmad’s Video on Demand (VOD) lead, noted that the streaming business comes with significant challenges such as rights acquisition, privacy management, and capital requirements. He highlighted that Tapmad’s journey in Pakistan has involved overcoming these hurdles while also contributing to sports culture through original productions, including locally themed series.
By forming an alliance with Grameenphone, Tapmad not only strengthens its international presence but also underscores the growing interconnection between telecom and digital entertainment sectors in South Asia. This collaboration positions Tapmad as one of the few Pakistani platforms successfully expanding beyond domestic borders, setting an example for other regional tech ventures looking to tap into neighboring markets. As digital consumption continues to surge across the region, this partnership demonstrates how localized strategies and telecom integrations can accelerate the adoption of streaming services among millions of users seeking accessible, high-quality entertainment.
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