Mizzima News

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The management rights of mobile phone services of the Burmese government operated Myanmar Telecom is being negotiated for transfer to the powerful Htoo company, an engineer from the Myanmar Telecommunication said.

The engineer said, nearly 50 per cent of the negotiation has been concluded and the final outcome is expected to be known by the end of July.

“They [Htoo Company] will handle all phone SIM cards already issued by Myanmar Post and Telegraph (MPT). Future SIM cards will be issued by the new business entity including payments of bills. MPT will handle only fixed line telephone business in the future. All mobile services will be transferred to the ‘Htoo’ Co. group,” he said.

The negotiations are for the second phase of ‘Htoo’s’ business in its telecommunication sector.

If the negotiation succeeds, the Telecommunication building in Bahan Township owned by the Burmese government’s Post and Telegraph Ministry will be taken over by ‘Htoo’ Co., the engineer added.

According to Myanmar Telecom, over 390,000 mobile phones were in use in Burma at the end of 2008.

Meanwhile, ‘Myanmar Avaia Services’ owned by Htoo Co. boss Tayza has signed a business agreement with a Russian Company CBOSS on April 8 in Naypyitaw the new capital, to produce pre-paid mobile SIM cards.

According to the agreement, Htoo Co. will invest USD 7 million in the SIM card production business and will manufacture the prepaid SIM cards in Yadanabon Cyber City in Pyinoolwin.