The fate of Myanmar Telecommunications - Ooredoo vs Telenor vs MPT

That's another picture I drew using a ballpen and a little photoshop :) cause recently, Ooredoo, one of 3 giant telecommunications providers in Myanmar has been selling SIM cards in the cheapest price ever in Myanmar at 1500 Kyats targeting the market of 60 millions population. The news and feedbacks have been spreading across media and socialnetwork but still, Telenor, another giant, remains silent.

History
Below articles will provide you the recent details about the 3 service providers.

First Foreign Telco In Myanmar, Ooredoo Rolls Out Service In Rapidly-Growing Southeast Asian Country
August 06, 2014

Qatar-based Ooredoo last weekend initiated telecommunications service in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The move marks the first foreign telephone service in the nation since it abandoned decades of military rule and economic isolation to open its society and economy a few years ago.
Ooredoo and rival Norwegian company Telenor both received licenses to operate in Myanmar last year and have been racing to roll out service. Telenor and Qatari Ooredoo beat out 89 other foreign competitors to receive the coveted telecom licenses last June, but they were not officially granted the 15-year licenses until January.
The previous junta restricted mobile access to an elite group in power and experts estimate that only 5 percent of Myanmar’s population of 60 million currently has mobile access, while as little as 1 percent may have access to Internet. In addition to connecting the Burmese with the rest of the world, Telenor and Ooredoo will have access to a nearly entirely untapped market of 60 million.

source: http://www.ibtimes.com/first-foreign-telco-myanmar-ooredoo-rolls-out-service-rapidly-growing-southeast-asian-1650664

SIM cards to enhance mobile phone coverage in Myanmar
August 4, 2014

Ross Cormack, CEO Ooredoo Myanmar commented: “We are so excited to have met our commitment to bring mobile telecommunications to the people of Myanmar, edging us ever closer to being able to serve the nation’s huge demand for mobile technology. In the past few weeks we have invited our Ooredoo Myanmar family and dealer partners to try out our next-generation network. As we undertake final preparations for launch and optimise the network we would like to extend this invitation to those living in the Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon areas, hence our offer of free services during this time. We are confident that the feedback from our new customers will assist us greatly in enhancing our network in time for our commercial launch.”
He continued: “By August 15th Ooredoo’s next generation network will deliver high definition voice calls and fast internet in the 68 cities and towns where we have coverage. We are working hard to deliver our services to as many people as possible and ensure ready availability of SIMs and affordable Ooredoo-approved devices. As we respond to the feedback from our new customers we will not only be expanding our coverage footprint beyond these initial cities and towns but importantly we will also improve signal strength for those already experiencing the service. To those not within our initial coverage area please know that we are working hard to increase our network footprint every day. To check which areas have coverage please log onto our website.”

source: http://www.ooredoo.com.mm/en/News.aspx

MPT promises a new era with KDDI
August 4, 2014

Consumers have been told to look out for a “reborn” Myanma Posts and Telecommunications, following the July 17 marriage with Japan’s KDDI telco and Sumitomo Corporation.
“MPT has had a long existence in Myanmar but has no experience in competing with others,” said U Khin Maung Tun, MPT’s general manager. “There is no experience in quick decision-making and marketing. And we have decided to welcome foreign partners in KDDI and Sumitomo Corporation.”
“MPT will be reformed to provide new services to all people in Myanmar. Look out for new MPT,” he said.
The firms signed a 10-year joint operation agreement that aims update MPT’s telecommunications network and providing service to a Japanese standard.
KDDI and Sumitomo Corporation established a joint-venture company, KDDI Summit Global Myanmar (KSGM), to act as one entity and link up with MPT.
The two Japanese firms succeeded in becoming MPT’s foreign partner with the support of Japan’s government, a spokesperson for Sumitomo said. “We thank the Japanese government for making this agreement,” said Kuniharu Nakamura, Sumitomo’s chief executive officer.

source: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/11072-mpt-promises-a-new-era-with-kddi.html