Myanmar's communications ministry on Friday pushed back the deadline for expressions of interest in acquiring its fourth mobile licence into 2016.

Interested parties now have until 5pm local time on 8 January to submit their expression of interest form, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) announced.

Earlier this month the MCIT set a deadline of 18 December for would-be applicants. It gave no reason for its decision to push back the timetable.

Once it has received the expressions of interest, the MCIT will select a preferred applicant and apply to the Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) for a licence, which will be valid for 15 years.

The successful applicant will be asked to form a joint venture with a consortium of 11 local investors and companies – including ISP Yatanarpon Teleport (YTP) – known as the Domestic SPV (special purpose vehicle).

Myanmar opened up its telecom sector in 2014 and is currently home to three mobile operators: Telenor, Ooredeoo, and Myanma Posts and Telecommunications (MPT), which includes Japan's KDDI among its partners.

According to the MCIT, telecom penetration had grown to 60% by the end of September 2015 from just 10% in 2013.

Totaltele.com