Hold the phone: talk of delay in telecoms announcement

Hold the phone: talk of delay in telecoms announcement

By Htoo Aung and Kayleigh Long   |   Thursday, 27 June 2013

The announcement of the outcome in Myanmar's telecommunications tender will reportedly go ahead as intended, despite rumours of a lower house resolution to hold off until a new telecoms law is enacted.

Speaking with The Myanmar Times, Telecommunications Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee chairman U Set Aung confirmed the June 27 announcement will take place, saying it's important for Myanmar's reputation.

"We are now working with the biggest international companies and this isn't playing ... We have to continue so that our country will get trust. We aren't working with SMEs fom regional neighbours like ASEAN countries. We can't make any mistakes. Myanmar's market has been just opened so we can't let our country's dignity down."

The Irrawaddy reports a member of Parliament's telecoms committee submitted an emergency statement urging that bids from local joint ventures be favoured in the tender process, prompting lawmakers to agree to delay the announcement.

Thein Nyunt, lawmaker and New National Democratic Party chair told Reuters that "A lower house lawmaker tabled an important motion suggesting that choosing the two telecoms operators should be postponed till the new telecoms law is enacted."

However, it is unclear whether or not the lower house has the authority to affect the announcement proceeding, and reports of a delay have been news to some prominent candidates in the tender.

"I haven't heard about changing the finalisation date. I heard that the process will be ongoing", said Digicel communications representative Ma Thiri Kyar Nyo.

Norwegian conglomerate Telenor Group echoed this, saying it had not received any communications from the relevant authorities regarding any  delay.

"We remain committed to the bid proposal we submitted on June 3, 2013. However, the bid process regulations preclude us from discussing any aspect of that proposal until the bidding process has been completed", their statement read.

 

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/06/28/hold-the-phone-talk-of-delay-in-telecoms-announcement/