Telecoms news from Myanmar

Myanmar Mobile Penetration Rate Already Higher than Expected

The mobile phone market in Myanmar could be less lucrative than originally thought, with mobile penetration rates already hitting 50 percent in urban areas. ...more.

Vodafone and China Mobile Drop Out of Bidding for Myanmar Telecoms Licenses

Vodafone and China Mobile are withdrawing from the process to award two telecommunications licences in Myanmar. ...more.

Myanmar Appoints Consultant to Advise on Mobile License Tenders

The Myanmar government has appointed a group of international consultants to assist it in preparing to award the country's first two mobile operator licenses. ...more.

Twelve Companies Short-Listed for Myanmar's Two Mobile Network Licenses

The Myanmar government says that it has pre-qualified 12 companies to bid for the country's two mobile operator licenses. ...more.

Vodafone to Bid for Mobile License in Myanmar

Vodafone has confirmed that it is to bid for one of the forthcoming mobile licenses being offered in Myanmar/Burma. The company has formed a joint-venture with China Mobile to bid for the license. ...more.

Former Burmese Telecoms Minister Investigated in Corruption Probe

A week after he resigned as Myanmar's Telecoms Minister, Thein Tun is reported to be under investigation for accepting bribes - along with about 50 other officials at the Ministry. ...more.

Thailand's AIS Mulls Bid for Burmese Telecoms License

Thailand based mobile network, Advanced Info Service (AIS) has confirmed that it is considering bidding for one of the two telecoms licenses put up for tender by the Myanmar/Burmese government. ...more.

Burma's Telecoms Minister Resigns Over SIM Card Price Clash

Myanmar/Burma's telecoms minister resigned earlier this week, just after the government published details of its planned telecoms license tender - but reportedly for unrelated reasons. ...more.

Myanmar Confirms Plans to Award Two Telecoms Licenses this Year

The Myanmar government has formally announced plans to award two telecoms licenses later this year, breaking the monopoly enjoyed by the state-owned operator. ...more.

Japan's KDDI Opens Office in Myanmar

Japan's KDDI has announced that it is setting up a local subsidiary in Myanmar/Burma. ...more.

Myanmar to Loosen State Controls on Telecoms Market

Myanmar's government has outlined plans to loosen the state's grip on several key industries, including the telecoms market. ...more.

Big Brother is Listening: Junta to Target 3,000 Cell Phones

Burma's military regime is preparing to intercept more than 3,000 GSM and CDMA phones, according to an official from the state-run Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications (MPT). ...more.

Myanmar's detained democracy icon dreams of tweets

Myanmar's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi wants to get a Twitter account once she is released from house arrest so she can get in touch with the younger generation after years of isolation, her lawyer said Monday. ...more.

Apple's iPhone is Most Popular Mobile Web Phone in Myanmar

The latest traffic report from Opera web browsers has found, probably surprisingly, that Apple's iPhone is the most popular handset used by Opera Mini users in the secretive country of Myanmar (Burma). ...more.

Myanmar Expanding its Mobile Networks

Myanmar is planning to add some 400,000 additional lines to its GSM and CDMA networks this year, ...more.

Myanmar to Expand GSM Network Coverage

Myanmar's telecommunication authorities are planning to expand GSM coverage to the border areas next to its Southeast neighbours, ...more.

Alcatel-Lucent Denies Selling Internet Monitoring Kit to Myanmar

Alcatel-Lucent has refuted recent media reports that it might have provided monitoring equipment to the Myanmar military government to track internet use by its citizens. ...more.

Burma to Expand CDMA Network Capacity

The state-owned telecoms network in Burma/Myanmar is to expand its CDMA network capacity by some 150,000 lines in the two main cities of Yangon and Mandalay this month, ...more.

Myanmar Allows Mobile Phones to be Used in Capital City

Myanmar's government is reported to have permitted mobile phones to be used in its secretive capital city, Naypyidaw. Phones, which are already highly restricted were banned in the new capital city for security reasons. ...more.

Celebrities tweet for Suu Kyi's release in Myanmar

Hollywood star Julia Roberts and detained Chinese activists are among celebrities and political prisoners tweeting and signing petitions for the release of Myanmar's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she approaches her 64th birthday - her 14th spent in detention - organizers said Sunday. ...more.