U2opia partners with Robi Axiata to offer free connected mobile apps in Bangladesh

- Fonepass makes data affordable and accessible for millions in Bangladesh

- Provides a tool for marketers to reach out to new users and retain existing ones

U2opia Mobile has inked a partnership with Robi Axiata, a mobile operator in Bangladesh, to provide its user base with a sponsored data service called Fonepass. Fonepass is targeted at subscribers with no or limited Internet access, enabling the use of mobile applications at no additional cost.

Fonepass is monetised through sponsorships, and enables telecom operators to give their subscribers more value. Content providers and other businesses can use the network solution with existing mobile websites and applications.

Robi's Executive Vice President Jean-Michel Arnaud Chanut said, "Robi's prime focus is to spread the use of Internet across the country regardless of our subscribers' socioeconomic backgrounds. In this regard, we feel that Fonepass will help in drawing a large number of new Internet users."

Sandeep Ganguly, CEO, U2opia Mobile said, "Users in emerging markets are increasingly demanding data connectivity but its unavailability and exorbitant data costs continue to leave billions of mobile users in information darkness. U2opia Mobile's sponsored data platform, Fonepass, is working with operators and local-global apps across geographies to ensure data is more accessible and affordable via our patented solution. Additionally, Fonepass also enables operators and content providers alike to capture the revenue from data that they are missing out (on).

In five years, U2opia Mobile has inked strategic relationships with over 75 mobile network operators (MNOs) globally. The company is backed by marquee investors Matrix Partners and Omidyar Network, who provide strategic market reach as well as strong financial support. The company runs operations from Singapore, Delhi in India, Dubai in the UAE and San Francisco in the US.