Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Myanmar 2017
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The expansion of Myanmar’s telecoms market continues to live up to its early promise, with the reform of the industry viewed as the biggest economic success since the military ceded power in 2011. The dramatic surge in network coverage has empowered local businesses and provided remote villages with the opportunity to connect to the outside world. The country’s IT segment continues to attract investors from around the globe. Driven by the rapid success achieved by international operators in the telecoms sector, foreign sponsors are eager to take part in the country’s evolving tech industry. In a matter of only a few years, the majority of Myanmar’s young population has gone from little or no access to internet services to a breeding ground for tech start-ups.

This chapter contains a roundtable with Takashi Nagashima, CEO, MPT-KSGM Joint Operations; Rene Meza, CEO, Ooredoo Myanmar; and Lars Erik Tellmann, CEO, Telenor Myanmar; and interviews with Michelle Simmons, General Manager of South-east Asia New Markets, Microsoft Asia Pacific; and David Madden, Founder & CEO, Phandeeyar.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Looking strong: Public and private investment have tapped into the market’s latent potential
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The expansion of Myanmar’s telecoms market continues to live up to its early promise, with the reform of the industry viewed as the biggest economic success since the military ceded power in 2011. The dramatic surge in network coverage has empowered local businesses and provided remote villages with the opportunity to connect to the outside world. While the growth of mobile penetration since the liberalisation of the sector in the autumn of 2013 has been nothing short of astonishing, heavy monsoon…

Overview

Local value: Takashi Nagashima, CEO, MPT-KSGM Joint Operations; Rene Meza, CEO, Ooredoo Myanmar; and Lars Erik Tellmann, CEO, Telenor Myanmar, on the sector’s trajectory
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Interview:Takashi Nagashima How would you assess the development of human capital within the telecoms industry since the liberalisation of the sector? TAKASHI NAGASHIMA: It’s well known that the telecoms industry has significantly changed since the market was liberalised, and we ourselves have undergone a major restructuring. MPT is now into its third year of joint operation with our Japanese partners, known collectively as KSGM. As with the other foreign operators, the flow of human capital…

Analysis

Appetite for data: The rise of 4G is set to expand the sector’s clientele base
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The rollout of 4G services combined with rising incomes in a data-hungry nation is set to drive growth in Myanmar’s telecoms sector for the foreseeable future. After two years of international operators entering the market, data consumption has surpassed neighbouring countries and continues to accelerate, fuelled by affordable smartphones. More Services In May 2016 Ooredoo became the first of three operators to offer commercial 4G LTE services in selected areas. The rollout was assisted by Nokia…

Interview

Digital transformation: Michelle Simmons, General Manager of South-east Asia New Markets, Microsoft Asia Pacific, on ICT infrastructure and digital development priorities
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Interview:Michelle Simmons How advanced is Myanmar in terms of its ICT infrastructure development compared with its neighbours in the region? MICHELLE SIMMONS: Myanmar’s “last-mover advantage” is unique among developing countries in South-east Asia, and this presents the country with an opportunity to learn from the successes and failures of its neighbours to grow and modernise its ICT industry. Since 2014 the liberalisation of the telecoms sector to bring in international competition…

Interview

Ready, set, tech: David Madden, Founder & CEO, Phandeeyar: Myanmar Innovation Lab, on the opportunities and challenges ahead
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Interview:David Madden In what ways can technology act as a catalyst for social development initiatives? DAVID MADDEN: This is one of the big opportunities for Myanmar. The country has a lot of catching up to do, but there’s enormous potential to use technology to accelerate change and development. In two years Myanmar has gone from having just a few million people connected to the internet to over 50m active SIM cards on the market. Most of these are in smartphones that are already consuming…

Overview

Building up: Infrastructure investments and venture capital are leading to the rapid development of the sector
OBG
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The country’s IT segment continues to attract investors from around the globe. Driven by the rapid success achieved by international operators in the telecoms sector, foreign sponsors are eager to take part in the country’s evolving tech industry. In a matter of only a few years, the majority of Myanmar’s young population has gone from little or no access to internet services to a breeding ground for tech start-ups. Young people still face significant hurdles in the form of limited access…