5. TELECOM LANDSCAPE
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With around 60 million people and only 4% wireless penetration and 3% fixed, Myanmar is
one of the last untapped telecommunication markets in the world (Telecoms 2012). The first
wireless network was launched in 1999 based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
Technology. Then Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) was introduced in 2002
and 3G network was commercially launched in 2008. For many years, MCIT (Ministry of
communication and Information Technology) has been acting as Myanmar’s only telecommunication regulator and owned the primary telecommunication operator, MPT (Myanmar Post
and Telecommunications).
Up until now, MPT has been the only GSM mobile operator in the country that serves 2G
and 3G networks, but in 2013 lost its monopoly as Norwegian Telenor and Qatar Telecom’s
Ooredoo were granted licenses. Significant investment from both of these foreign providers and commitment to introduce 3G services within 2014 are cause for much speculation.
Previously, the immature infrastructure left little hope for mobile-enabled products. But
two key developments could signal an opening for new opportunities, including mobile
money: President Thein Sein’s goal is to reach 80% mobile penetration by 2015, and the
closing of the current lottery system for SIMs, which has prompted a black market for SIM
resale.
At the current level of network deployments, only three major cities are covered by wireless mobile networks including regions around Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay. There
are about 14,000 kilometers of fiber in Myanmar and around 1,800 mobile telecom towers
across the country.Mobile roaming services in Myanmar are very limited. MPT has limited number of roaming partners and has no Short Message Service (SMS) Hub to connect
MPT’s customers with operators around the globe. The government owns most of telecom
infrastructure1.
Mobile shop in Nay Pyi Taw
1 Green Power for Mobile Market Analysis- Myanmar. (2014). Sizing the Opportunity: Green Telecoms in Myanmar.
International Finance Corporation: World Bank `