Myanmar’s MyTel to launch 4G in 1H18

1 min readAug 30, 20175:57 AM

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Vietnamese operator Viettel’s joint venture in Myanmar plans to launch 4G-only services in the first quarter of next year.

The joint venture, MyTel, plans to cover 90% of the population by its official launch, deploying nearly 7,200 base stations and 33,000km of fiber. This footprint would be double that of its nearest rival.

According to the news agency, in contrast to previous reports MyTel does not plan to deploy 2G or 3G in Myanmar but will instead jump straight to 4G.

MyTel is a joint venture between Vietnamese military-run Viettel and a consortium of local ICT companies. The venture received Myanmar’s fourth telecoms license in January, and now has branches across the country and around 2,000 employees.

The deployment has a total investment of around $1.5 billion, with Viettel contributing a 49% stake.

MyTel plans to offer roaming to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia at prices equivalent to local charges, the report states. The company also plans to build on its deployment in Myanmar to pursue expansion to 10 overseas market, it adds without elaborating.

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What this means

MyTel's direct 4G-only leap in Myanmar is a bold, high-risk strategy, aiming to leapfrog competitors by foregoing older 2G/3G infrastructure. This aggressive investment of $1.5 billion, with Viettel holding a 49% stake, puts immediate pressure on existing operators to upgrade and expand their own 4G services or risk being outpaced. Given Viettel's prior multi-market expansions, as seen with Chagee Holdings targeting Southeast Asia, this move signals a strong intent to dominate, using network density and roaming benefits. However, widespread consumer readiness for 4G-only services in a developing market, and the effective onboarding of its 2,000 employees to service this new tech, will be crucial. We await the actual service pricing upon its 1H18 launch.

Maria Santos · Retail News Asia newsroom

Questions & Answers

When does MyTel intend to launch its 4G-only services in Myanmar?

MyTel plans to launch its 4G-only services in the first quarter of next year. This launch will follow the company receiving Myanmar's fourth telecoms license earlier in January.

What is the extent of MyTel's planned network coverage upon launch?

MyTel aims to cover 90% of Myanmar's population by its official launch. This will be achieved by deploying approximately 7,200 base stations and 33,000km of fibre, which is double its nearest rival's footprint.

Will MyTel offer 2G or 3G services in Myanmar, or only 4G?

MyTel does not plan to deploy 2G or 3G services in Myanmar. The company will instead launch exclusively with 4G technology, according to the news agency, contrary to previous reports.

What is the total investment for MyTel's network deployment, and what is Viettel's stake?

The total investment for MyTel's deployment in Myanmar is around $1.5 billion. Vietnamese military-run Viettel, one of the joint venture partners, is contributing a 49% stake to this investment.

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