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Country had planned to sell off 140 MHz of frequencies in the 2.6 GHz band later this month.
Myanmar is unlikely to be able to hold an auction of mobile frequencies in the 2.6 GHz band towards the end of this month as planned due to delays in the creation of a spectrum roadmap, it emerged this week.
Last month the country’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) said it would auction 140 MHz of 2.6-GHz spectrum on 24 March and published a document containing its proposals for the sale for consultation with industry stakeholders.
However, on Tuesday the Myanmar Times quoted posts and telecoms director U Than Htun Aung as saying the government received a range of contrasting views in response to the document and as such its spectrum roadmap may not be ready in time to meet the proposed timetable. The final auction framework was initially due to be published before the end of February, the paper said.
It added that Telenor and Ooredoo, the two international operators that beat off strong competition to win licences in Myanmar and launched mobile services in the country in 2014, have both said they would prefer a spectrum roadmap to be in place before the auction.
Ooredoo Myanmar CEO Rene Meza added that the delay in the publication of the guidelines makes it unlikely that operators will be ready for a 24 March auction.
The MCIT had set a provisional deadline of 7 March for would-be participants to submit their applications with a view to naming the qualified bidders a week later.
There are 100 MHz of FDD spectrum in the 2.6-GHz band, enough for up to five licences, and 40 MHz of TDD spectrum, or two licences, up for grabs, the MCIT said in its consultation document.
The available spectrum ranges from 2500 MHz to 2690 MHz, with the TDD spectrum falling between 2570 MHz and 2620 MHz.
