Twelve entities from around the world have pre-qualified to apply for two mobile licences in Myanmar.
Myanmar’s Telecommunications Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee announced today that the 12 entities had satisfied requirements to…
Twelve entities from around the world have pre-qualified to apply for two mobile licences in Myanmar.
Myanmar’s Telecommunications Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee announced today that the 12 entities had satisfied requirements to ensure they have the finances, resources, operating skills and experience needed to plan, implement and operate public telecoms networks in the nation.
Last week, it was revealed that 22 entities had applied to take part in the licence auction process but some telcos such as Indonesia’s Telkom and South Korean SK Telecom have not been shortlisted.
Conversely, the Vodafone/China Mobile consortium and Caribbean Digicel have qualified. The companies announced their participation in the licence process earlier this month.
The others to pre-qualify are: a consortium of India’s Bharti Airtel; Malaysia-based Axiata Group; France Telecom-Orange with Marubeni; Japan’s KDDI in consortium with Sumitomo, Myanmar ICT Development and A1 Construction; America and Africa-focused Millicom; a consortium of South Africa-based MTN; Qatar’s Ooredoo (formerly Qtel); Singapore’s SingTel with KBZ and Myanmar Telephone Company (M-Tel); Norway’s Telenor Mobile Communications; and Vietnam’s Viettel.
The third and final stage of the licence process now begins, the committee said. Pre-qualified applicants have until 3 June to submit their applications. The committee expects to announce the winners of the two nationwide 15-year licences by 27 June.
After decades of isolation, Myanmar – which has a population of about 60 million and mobile penetration of less than 10% – is currently undergoing a long-awaited political reform impacting many sectors, and in particular telecoms.
