Recent Developments In Myanmar's New Telecommunications Law

With the adoption of Myanmar's new Telecommunications Law ("Telecoms Law") last year and the two incumbent operator licenses awarded, the country's telecommunications industry is evolving at a rapid pace. In order to give full effect to the new law, Myanmar is about to adopt new implementing rules. This Commentary summarizes the most recent developments that may be of interest to prospective foreign investors and the key provisions of these long-awaited rules implementing the new Telecoms Law,¹ which covers areas such as licensing, access and interconnection, numbering and spectrum, and competition.

On balance, this new regulatory framework largely meets or exceeds international standards and is expected to provide considerable opportunities for growth and foreign investment in a liberalized Myanmar telecoms sector.² However, there remain obstacles for international companies in Myanmar, which need careful consideration.