Myanmar’s fourth cellco to use the brand name Mytel

Myanmar’s newly-licensed fourth mobile operator will use the brand name Mytel, and will aim to differentiate by targeting rural areas and competing on price.

The joint venture between Vietnam’s Viettel, the consortium of local ICT companies that make up Myanmar National Telecom Holding Public and Star High Public Company was awarded a telecoms license last week.

The new company’s external relations officer as stating that Mytel will make use of the telecoms assets used by Star High Public Company’s state-owned parent company Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC). MEC owns MECtel, a state operator with access to extensive tower and fiber assets.

Mytel also plans to utilize capacity on the Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1) subsea cable, which lands in Myanmar. According to the report, state operator MPT acts as a co-landing party for the connection but does not participate directly in the project.

The operator plans to offer 2G, 3G and 4G services with a focus on extending coverage in rural areas, and offering services at a lower price than rivals Telenor Myanmar, Uninor Myanmar and the joint venture between MPT and KDDI.