Myanmar Telecom Licences Inch Closer

[SeaVisionBurma]

Telecom licences delayed until end of January

From The Myanmar Times. Aung Shin, 20th January 2014

A man talks on the phone while strolling through downtown Yangon. The government has already failed once on a promise to deliver telecom licences to the winners of last year’s international tender. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing

The delayed issuance of telecom licences to Norway-based telecommunications firm Telenor and Qatar’s Ooredoo are now expected by the end of the month, more than a year after the tender process to select telecommunications operators began, government officials said.

The government previously promised to deliver the vital licences by the end of last year, giving the two operators clearance to begin developing a nationwide mobile infrastructure, but certain provisions to the recently enacted Telecommunications Law were stalled, Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) director U Than Tun Aung told The Myanmar Times on January 15.

“We are working on finalising five applicable rules for the Telecom Law by the end of January. We have already negotiated with foreign telecom operators about applying detailed rules and regulations of the law so they are able to start their businesses,” he said, adding that the five provisions have already been sent to the Attorney-General’s Office. “After we get approval of cabinet, we will issue telecom licences.”

Full article here: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/9286-telecom-licences-delayed-until-end-of-january.html