Min Zeyar Hlaing, Chairman of the Myanmar Computer Industry Association (MCIA) told Mizzima, “The companies eligible for licenses have been selected. The new ISP licenses will be issued to these companies after the Information Technology Law is enacted.”

At present, the Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT) and the Yadanbon Teleport are the only ISPs in Myanmar,. Domestic IT companies provide internet service in collaboration with the two official ISPs.

Chairman Shein Thu Aung of Red Link, a leading ISP said, “We provide our services in collaboration with Yadanabon Teleport. If we get a license in our name, we can provide services independently.”

On the future of IT businesses in Myanmar, he said that consumers would get better services if many more domestic and foreign players enter the market and boost competition.

“Currently we have limitations on technology and working procedures as we are affiliated to the official ISPs. The consumers can choose better services if new licenses are issued and ISPs will enjoy more freedom,” he said.

Min Zeyar Hlaing said that they would demand the government to not issue licenses directly to foreign companies but to domestic companies working with the foreign operators.

“Most domestic companies will not be able to compete with foreign companies in terms of technology and capital investment, if foreign companies are given exclusive rights in this market. Moreover, there are security concerns. So we have demanded the government to give ISP licenses to only foreign and domestic companies joint ventures”, he said.

The Myanmar Telecommunications Enterprise has selected two 100% foreign-owned operators, namely Telenor and Oredoo, to provide internet and telecom services in Myanmar.