SINGAPORE Telecommunications has teamed up with a company in Bangladesh to offer Internet services to businesses there.

SingTel announced yesterday that it and Advance Data Networks System Ltd (ADNSL) will jointly offer the first international IP-VPN in Bangladesh.

IP-VPN refers to Internet-based virtual private networks used by companies for internal secured communications.

The latest tie-up allows SingTel to offer Internet services to corporate customers covering all of South Asia - Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Wong Soon Nam, SingTel's vice-president of business marketing, said that the alliance meant that companies with business in South Asia can enjoy a one-stop service from SingTel to connect their regional offices in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

'Trade and investment liberalisation have led to strong economic growth in Bangladesh,' Mr Wong said.

'This solution is especially effective for businesses in the manufacturing industry that require seamless and reliable communication within a secure network of suppliers, customers and financial institutions with multiple offices.'

SingTel said that one of its first customers for the new service is Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, a top US clothing and sportswear company with interests in Bangladesh.

Asif Mahmood, ADNSL chairman, said: 'We believe with the introduction of this new service, Bangladeshi enterprises with multiple locations across the world can be assured of a secure and reliable network.''

This article first appeared in BT on December 19, 2006