Sunday 2 February 2014

Myanmar to pass telecommunications by-law for more licences

NAY PYI TAW—Myanmar will enact a telecommunications by-law by the end of February and issue more telecommunications-related licences, says a government official.

The information was disclosed yesterday during a signing ceremony with Ooredoo for a nationwide telecommunications licence.

“Rules have been adopted on equal terms. We can now grant a licence because the telecommunications law has been approved. When the by-law comes out, we will issue licences for other services such as internet. The by-law is written in English. It needs to be translated (into Myanmar). Then, we have to coordinate with the Attorney General’s Office and seek cabinet approval. So, I think the by-law can be approved by the end of February,” said Than Tun Aung of the Directorate of Telecommunications.

When the telecommunications by-law becomes effective, more licences will reportedly be issued to other companies, in addition to the four companies currently due to receive licences.

“Our department cannot do what it wants to do. The by-law says we must oversee the operators on an equal basis. Those four companies must compete technologically. It is the duty of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to ensure quality for the sake of the country and the people. We have three ways to take action: warnings, fines and licence revocation if they (operators) fail to comply with the law and rules. They will not do anything that leads to licence revocation. All these are included in the by-law,” said Than Tun Aung.

An independent regulator will also be established in 2015. Ooredoo will sell SIM cards at affordable prices in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon by mid-2014.

source: Eleven Myanmar

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