Myanmar likely to delay 2600-MHz auction

Myanmar’s telecom ministry may need to delay a planned auction of 2600-MHz spectrum due to a conflict over whether the spectrum should be allocated before the regulatory framework is finalized.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has intended to auction 140MHz of 2600-MHz spectrum by the end of March.

But after industry consultations, the government has acknowledged that it may need to delay the process. The consultations brought to light a conflict between those believing that the spectrum should be allocated as quickly as possible to ensure the nation’s telecom operators have sufficient spectrum to meet demand, and those believing that a spectrum roadmap should be completed first to give greater clarity to the industry.

Both Telenor Myanmanr and Ooredoo Myanmar have expressed a belief that the spectrum roadmap should be released before the auction.

MCIT posts and telecom director U Than Htun Aung acknowledged that the ministry didn’t expect such a range of conflicting views on the matter, and that the auction may need to be delayed as a result of the conflict.

The ministry had last indicated that it planned to conduct the auction on March 24.