Norwegian telecom giant Telenor, one of the two winners of telecom licences in Myanmar, will sell as many as 30 million SIM cards across the country, its top executive has said.
At the time of launch, Telenor will have 30 million SIM card numbers in the ‘095’ series available, Petter Furberg, chief executive officer of Telenor Myanmar, said at a press briefing, where Telenor Myanmar’s Chairman Sigve Brekke was also present.
The Myanmar government granted telecommunication operating licences to Telenor and Qatar’s Ooredoo last month to roll out telecommunications services in the former pariah country. The initial 15-year licences went effective from February 5.
Furberg said Telenor’s next step is to launch its products and services “within eight months, with the goal of reaching 90 percent of the population within five years of the roll-out.”
He said Telenor will adopt a partnership model to stimulate industry innovation and create new opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs.
The telecoms firm is also continuing to recruit at all levels and across a number of functions within the organisation. Telenor Myanmar currently has 250 employees who are either onboard full-time or have received employment offers and the company said it aims to build a workforce of 1,000 employees by the end of 2014.
Telenor said it will adopt a mass market strategy to deliver “Internet for All” through the use of both 2G and 3G networks as the most affordable mobile phones in the market are currently 2G devices.
