India Incorporated

A consortium led by Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel and other 11 applicants from around the world have been shortlisted by the Myanmar government to bid for two nationwide telecom licences.

Apart from Bharti Airtel, China Mobile, Japan's KDDI Corp, Africa's MTN, Singapore Telecommunications, Norway's Telenor SA and Digicel are the others in the fray. The winning applicant will be announced by the end of June.

Securing a licence in Myanmar, which is opening up various sectors to global players, will help India’s largest telecom firm expand its presence in Asia.
The country’s Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraph said this week: “The Telecommunications Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee has announced that 12 applicants have been pre-qualified to submit applications for two nationwide telecommunications licences in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.”

The government had invited foreign companies in January to submit applications for two nationwide mobile permits, which would be valid for 15-20 years with a renewal option.

The auction had attracted wide interest from international telecom firms, which see huge opportunities in a country of 60 million where mobile penetration is just 5 to 10 per cent.