After partnering with Japanese carrier KDDI and trading house Sumitomo, Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT) has unveiled a new logo in a corporate structural overhaul to compete against its new international rivals in the telecommunication sector.
State-run MPT signed an agreement with KDDI and Sumitomo on July 16 to form a partnership that will see the expansion of the network coverage and application of advanced technology to provide high quality communication services.
The changing of logo was accompanied by a promotion that ran on September 13 and 14 where 40 percent to 60 percent extra credits were provided for K5,000–K30,000 top-up cards.
However, the relatively high calling rate of K50 remains unchanged and U Khin Maung Htun, managing director of MPT, said they are considering introducing a cheaper rate and will announce plans at a later date.
With the end of their telecom monopoly, and the government no longer involved in the decision-making process, MPT has transformed into an entity similar to a private enterprise, said U Thaung Tin, deputy minister for communication and information technology.
Four telecommunication companies are allowed to operate in Myanmar: MPT, Yadanarpon Teleport, Norway-based Telenor and Qatar-based Ooredoo. Ooredoo has launched its service in August with a calling rate half that of MPT.Telenor, which is due to roll out its services soon, has announced it will set a rate cheaper than the existing ones.
KDDI-Sumitomo, which started working together with MPT on September 1, is planning to invest $2 billion with the intent of upgrading the existing infrastructure and expanding services. MPT and its Japanese partners have arranged a management structure where a Myanmar and a Japanese person fill each of the same senior positions.
MPT said it plans to sell over 5 million SIM cards by the end of 2014. In September, MPT has started selling SIMs for K1,500 at retail mobile stores but the supply is limited, leading to a black market where prices of the SIMs reach up to K15,000 and K 20,000. MPT has also planned to produce low-value top-up cards soon.
