17 companies jostle for role in newest mobile phone network

Going from one of the least connected countries in the world to having more than half of the population on a mobile phone in the space of a few years is no small achievement for Myanmar.
 
But it’s also no small boon for the businesses involved, which is why 17 local companies are lining up to take part in the newest telecommunications outfit, according to Reuters.
 
Qater’s Ooredoo and Norway’s Telenor launched in 2014, joining state-backed Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications.
 
Now the fourth coveted license is for grabs. Valid for 15 years, the license will go to a consortium of local firms handpicked from the 17 applicants. The winners will be chosen sometime this year followed by the search for a foreign partner.
 
So it’s still a ways off, but a sign that you can expect smartphone and internet penetration to grow even more.
 
Photo / Coconuts Yangon