The timeline below depends on the regulations (by-laws) being approved. The news story suggest they have been. We know that they are open for comments. We plan to give comments by the Dec 2 deadline. So unless the licenses are being developed in parallel, the chances of issuance by year end are not that good.
Myanmar’s Telecommunications Law faced a few months’ delay coming out, but the by-law followed it by just one month. “We can wait for it, as the licence for Telenor will be valid for 15 years. The government has done well to prepare the telecommunications law and the by-law in a short time,” he said.
Norway’s Telenor, along with Qatar’s Ooredoo, won a competitive tender for two mobile operating licences last June. Both companies said they would start selling SIM cards and offer their services eight months after they are granted the licenses.
Telenor is currently in discussions with other telecommunications firms to set up mobile networks across Myanmar. They are inviting local retailers to distribute their SIM cards. Ooredoo is also starting some recruitment.
“If we obtain the licence before the year’s end, our SIM cards will be available by the middle of next year. In the first stage, we will do our best to provide very stable voice and data services,” said Furberg. “We will employ about 150 staff before the end of this year. In the coming one or two months, we will start our recruitment, giving priority to Myanmar residents.”
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