MTN has submitted an application to the Myanmar government's Telecommunications Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee, formally entering competition for award of a telecommunications licence in that country.
Tenders for the award of two nationwide telecommunications licences in Myanmar are due to be submitted today. MTN is responding in consortium with Myanmar-based Amara Communications and M1 Telecom Limited.
Reuters reported that Vodafone and China Mobile pulled out of the race for one of the two new licences as conditions set by the country did not suit the two operators. The two had joined forces to bid for a licence in the country formerly known as Burma, where the government wants to increase the number of mobile operators from two to four, and were among 12 applicants to reach the short list, noted the wire service.
South African-based MTN is one of the world's largest mobile operators, with nearly 200 million subscribers across Africa and the Middle East, while China Mobile is the world's largest operator and Vodafone the second-largest.
MTN believes in the enormous promise of Myanmar, a country fast emerging from years of sanctions.
"Challenges of greenfield operations in major countries are significant," says Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN group president and CEO. "We know this from our successes in South Africa, Nigeria, Iran and other populous countries.
As we have underlined in our licence application, we combine unique experience of both developed and emerging markets. Our track record of rapidly rolling out and managing world-class networks in challenging environments is unparalleled."
Dabengwa adds that MTN is "proposing early nationwide coverage, high-quality voice and data, innovative services including Internet applications and mobile banking".
The Telecommunications Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee is expected to announce the successful bidders on 27 June.
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