The CEO of Qatari-backed cellco Oooredoo Myanmar has told Reuters that the company will continue to focus its efforts on the pre-pay market for the moment, but may introduce post-paid contracts at a later date. ‘We have the functionality to deliver it, but at the moment we’ve huge demand for exactly what we’re offering in pre-paid,’ CEO Ross Cormack was quoted as saying. Having signed up more than a million subscribers within its first month of operations, the newcomer has tapped into the nation’s massive untapped demand for communications services. Cormack went on to say that the cellco’s 3G services are allowing many subscribers to use the internet for the first time: ‘The biggest demand has been browsing, with Facebook close behind and other social networking probably third. Self-generated content is where a lot of people spend their time, which is why Facebook is popular here.’ The telco’s licence also permits the provision of fixed line services, although Ooredoo has not yet decided if it will take advantage of this option. Commenting on the provider’s possible next moves chief commercial officer Cynthia Gordon noted: ‘We see a lot of opportunities in different areas and the challenge is structuring the right approach in terms of what’s the best order of priority.’
Meanwhile, the cellco reiterated that it is keen to share network infrastructure with fellow new licensee Telenor Myanmar – although the Norwegian-backed cellco is yet to launch commercial services – and possibly incumbent Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT), which has recently partnered with Japan’s KDDI and Sumitomo as part of a scheme to modernise the operator. ‘Everybody is in start-up mode, so is focusing on getting coverage up,’ Cormack explained, adding: ‘The further out we get in time the more we would love to share. It’s not just towers but fibre and any other passive infrastructure. I would expect a high percentage of sharing long-term.’