Axiata Group Bhd (RM6.76/share) Among those in Myanmar telecom race

Axiata Group Bhd has said it hopes to play a major role in the Myanmar telecoms market and has no qualms about partnering a Burmese party for that purpose. Axiata, though, faces competition. Global players like Norwegian firm Telenor (parent of DiGi.Com Bhd), Digicel, the largest mobile operator in the Caribbean, Vietnam’s VNPT-Fujitsu, Russian heavyweight VimpelCom and Sweden’s TeliaSonera AB, are all jockeying for a chance for the four telecom licences that will be dished out, according to reports.

The Myanmar government is in the midst of selecting a consultant that will oversee an upcoming tender for the telecom licences. It is yet unclear when the tenders will be out.

It said that four telecom operating licences would be granted - two for Burmese companies and two for foreign firms with 4G services targeted as early as 2013. –StarBiz