Twelve international consortia were shortlisted on Thursday bringing them one step closer to two network operating licenses being offered by the Myanmar government.
In order to be pre-qualified, applicants need to have "the requisite resources, financial strength, operating skills and experience to design, implement and operate a public telecommunications network" in Myanmar, said the Telecommunications Tender Evaluation and Operator Committee in a statement announcing the shortlist.
The companies include a union of Vodafone and China Mobile, Norway's Telenor, SingTel and Digicel, an Irish company that has partnered with Yoma Strategic Holdings and George Soros' Quantam Strategic Group.
"We believe that we are uniquely positioned to offer affordable first class communications to the people of Myanmar and are looking forward to having the opportunity to do so," said Denis O'Brien, Digicel Chairman and founder following the announcement.
Pre-qualified applicants will submit a final bid by June 3. The committee expects to announce the two winning companies by June 27.
