Myanmar awards fourth telecoms license as mobile market heats up

A man speaks on a mobile phone in downtown Yangon on August 16, 2013. Qatar's Ooredoo, winner of one of two telecom licenses for Myanmar, introduced during a press conference its plans for one of the world's last virtually untapped mobile phone markets. AFP PHOTO/ Soe Than WIN

YANGON: Myanmar on Jan 12 awarded its fourth – and final – telecoms license to a joint venture between Vietnam's telecom company Viettel and two local firms, heating up competition in a rapidly growing market by adding a second majority-Myanmar operator.

Military-run Viettel will have a 49% stake in the new venture called Myanmar National Tele & Communications Co Ltd, while its local partners, Myanmar National Telecom Holding Public and Star High Public Company will hold 23% and 28% respectively.