Myanmar ICT

In September the Myanmar ICT sector will welcome two new foreign telecoms companies vying for their slice of consumers. The move is expected to create demand for a number of ICT services companies, drawing upon the efforts of web designers, network professionals and programmers. However, as with all sectors in Myanmar, education and human resources are a major bottleneck and local talent is hard to find.

The announcement of the winners of Myanmar’s recent telecoms auction marks a further milestone in the country’s modernisation and integration into the global economy. The licensing process had attracted significant attention from some of the industry’s biggest players, as the market is largely untapped.

Having kept a tight lid on access to information for many years, Myanmar is now opening its doors to new technologies, bringing a tidal wave of social empowerment. However, quality control both in terms of technology and content is likely to be the main challenge going forward.

More than 40 telecoms giants from around the globe are vying for the opportunity to access Myanmar’s untapped market following a government invitation in January to submit expressions of interest (EoIs). Myanmar’s low penetration rates and large population are already generating high interest among industry players, as is the recently-announced investigation into corruption at the Telecoms Ministry.