Airtel gives final bid for telecom licence in Myanmar

Apart from Airtel consortium, there are 10 other bidders in the race for two new licenses in Myanmar

A Bharti Airtel-led consortium has given its final bid for a telecom licence in Myanmar, as India’s biggest private telecom company looks to expand operations.  Airtel currently offers services in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and 17 African countries,  apart from India.      

Apart from Airtel consortium, there are 10 other bidders in the race for two new licences in Myanmar, which include Axiata, Digicel, France-Tel, KDDI, Millicom, MTN, QTel, SingTel, Telenor and Viettel. The Myanmarese  government had shortlisted 12 applicants. A consortium of Vodafone and China Mobile decided to opt out of the bidding process last week. The winners are expected to be announced on June 27.  The licences are for 2x5 MHz on 900 MHz and 2x10 MHz on 2,100 MHz.

Overall, the Myanmarese  government will award four licences, two new ones and two for the existing local operators, MPT (the incumbent) and Yatanarpon Teleport (YT). MPT is a fully government-owned operator and YT a semi-government owned operator. To increase telephone and internet accessibility, Myanmar has opened the door for foreign firms to enter its market.      

Its communication ministry is part of a plan to expand telephone penetration to 75-80 per cent by 2016, from the current level of around 10 per cent.  

Global telecom firms are eyeing Myanmar after a number of international sanctions were eased in response to political reforms under a quasi-civilian government that took power in 2011.