The company said it further plans to complete a nationwide launch of 2G and 3G networks within five years, and said it wants to install 4G-ready base stations in the country.
Glenn Mandelid, communications director of Telenor Asia told reporters in Thailand that the mobile network launch would aim to drive social development and economic growth in the country.
Telenor and Qatari company Ooredoo won licences and beat off competition from nearly 90 competitors for access to a licence with a term of 15 years. Demand for the licences is particularly high considering the fact that 90% of the country’s population does not have access to a mobile phone.
“We aim to take the leadership position in Myanmar,” Mandelid told reporters. “With our competence and experience from similar situations in other Asian markets, the group’s largest revenue source, we are confident of being able to roll out services that will benefit the people of Myanmar.”
Ooredoo has not yet outlined its plans for investment in the country, and there have been questions over how the company will be received. Leading Buddhist monks in Myanmar called for a boycott of the company soon after the announcement because of long-standing anti-Islamic sentiment in parts of the country.
