TELENOR MYANMAR

ASIA TELENOR MYANMAR

Providing full connectivity to Myanmar

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Accessible EVERYWHERE, Affordable to ALL Telenor Myanmar has undergone drastic changes in the past few years in a drive to rapidly improve telecommunications in the country, establishing itself as a leading figure for others in the industry to follow Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Donovan Smith

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hen Asia Outlook last spoke to Telenor Myanmar in August, 2016, the telecoms industry in Myanmar was undergoing drastic changes with a high demand for mobile data services and network coverage. Telenor saw an opportunity to capitalise on Myanmar’s telecoms sector while enriching the lives of people in the country.

A primary goal for this year has been the continuation and expansion of the Company’s mobile network, ensuring that its services were available for all people in Myanmar no matter where they live and work.

“Currently we have 8,000 mobile sites in operation and are actively servicing all states and the majority of townships located across the country,” explains Lars Erik Tellmann, Chief Executive Officer at Telenor Myanmar. “We have an impressive population coverage, standing at 90 percent or close to 50 million people, after less than only three years in operation. This enables our customers to enjoy the largest and most complete and reliable 2G, 3G and 4G network service experience.”

With the Company’s success over the past few years, it is instilling

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confidence that its rapid investment and build-out - which will provide nationwide coverage on all technology platforms - will be valued by new and existing customers. It is important to Telenor Myanmar that it continues to build-out its services until all of its customers, wherever they live, are fully satisfied with the Company’s rollout.

Gobal data consumption

Telenor Myanmar was set-up to provide world-class communication services to all people of Myanmar, while at the same time ensuring a strong delivery of economic and social benefits to the society that it is a part of.

Tellmann affirms: “We measure our success on the satisfaction of our customers, and subsequently through that we strive to find new ways to consistently deliver better and more affordable services.”

At present, the Company is placing its focus on bringing out reliable 4G services, giving customers the chance to smoothly stream movies and videos, and to speed-up gaming experiences.

It is important to remember that close to 70 percent of Telenor’s 19 million customers in Myanmar are already active data users, with a strong affinity

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FIRST MYANMAR INVESTMENT (FMI)

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irst Myanmar Investment (FMI) has sustained its long-term commitment to good business, sustainability and sensible financial management, ensuring the Company is always poised to grow alongside the country.

FMI is one of the earliest public companies formed after Myanmar adoption of Market Economy in 1990. After it was established in 1992, the Company became a success due to its strategic diversification, professional management and complete transparency.

to social media consumption.

“With the increased data consumption we have seen our total data usage double over the past year.

In Yangon our customers are spending on average three hours on internet every day and its growing with new service adoption. This shows that the demand for mobile data is global, and that once people have access to smartphones they adapt similar usage behaviour independent of which market they are in.

“There is no longer a divide between a developed and developing country when it comes to people’s appetite for data,” adds Tellmann.

“This holds for great opportunities to further digitalise the society, while at the same time it is a huge challenge for the industry to keep delivering a world-class data service at a much lower purchasing power level than the comparable other markets in the region.

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2016 saw the Company achieve a particularly significant milestone, becoming the first Company to be listed in newly established Yangon Stock Exchange, and its associate investment, the Wave Money, becomes the first Company to receive a mobile financial services registration certificate from the central bank of Myanmar. The Wave Money launched its services in more than 160 townships last November, growing to a staggering 10,000 outlets across the nation.

Even with its great success, FMI remains level-headed in its approach to business, a factor that will inevitably lead to its cemented leading position in the market.

FMI is resolute in its responsibility and duty to the country when it comes to contribute to nation building, while also shaping the corporate landscape in which the Business operates. Through transparency in its operations and solid corporate governance, FMI is able to act as a role model for other companies to look to.

As a leader within Myanmar, the Company is always willing to provide its years of experience to both public and private sector companies, ensuring they can be helpful and pass on knowledge where possible.

Telenor 4G launch in Taungdwingyi, back in February this year

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FINANCIAL SERVICES

HEALTHCARE

First Myanmar Investment Co., Ltd. (FMI) is one of Myanmar’s largest public companies with more than 8,000 shareholders and an unbroken track record of profitability and dividend payments since inception.

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First Myanmar Investment Co., Ltd.

FMI Centre, 10th Floor, 380 Bogyoke Aung San Road Pabedan Township, Yangon, Myanmar T: +95 1 240 363 | +95 1 240 373 | +95 1 240 383 F: +95 1 246 882 | +95 1 246 883 E: fmi@spa-mm.com | www.fmi.com.mm

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This flood response is just one of many examples of Telenor’s CSR work

“In order to see this become a reality we need to continue striving for optimisation and enhancements of our network, tackling any areas of improvement that we find together with our partners in an aggressive manner to maximise technology potentials.”

Tellmann continues: “A major focus point for us in 2017 has been the ability to enrich our customers’ lives through digital optimisation. A great example of this is the introduction of lifestyle app, WowBox - a free to use one-stop shop for great localised content, competitions and entertainment - and through the app our customers can easily gain access to relevant local news and entertainment.”

The WowBox app has rapidly grown in popularity since its pilot launch earlier in the year, with more than one million downloads in the past six months. It is important to remember that it is early days for telecommunications and the digital

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With the Company servicing approximately 19 million customers, we have more than proven that we are a financially healthy prospect with the ability to positively contribute to Myanmar

frontier in Myanmar as a whole, however, the rise in popularity of services such as WowBox is showing great potential in the area.

Rollout continues

Telenor Myanmar has invested heavily - since Asia Outlook last spoke to the Company - in its network rollout and its ability to leapfrog the technology platforms.

“To date Telenor has invested more than US$1.9 billion, and looking forward we aim to continue to invest in order to further improve quality and coverage of our services in the coming years,” affirms Tellmann.

With additional investments in progress, the Company will ensure they keep up with the rising demand for data in Myanmar and a key tax contributor to the country.

“As the country gradually becomes fully connected and the hyper-growth that we have witnessed in the past few years begins to saturate, it is

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important that we are able to exercise discipline and focus on efficiencies in our operations to ensure the business remains sustainable over time,” adds Tellmann. “Telenor is a long-term partner to Myanmar and we aim to remain fully committed to our ambitions for the country.”

Establishing an empowered and winning culture

One of Telenor’s key strategic ambitions in Myanmar is to nurture an organisation rooted in an open and winning culture. Rising local talents are developed courtesy of expert colleagues as part of Telenor’s efforts to transform Telenor Myanmar into a truly local company built on local talents.

“Currently 95 percent of the workforce is local. We have been successful in bringing back a skilled Myanmar workforce from abroad, which adds great diversity to our team.

We have more than 42 percent female

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“...we aim, with the support of the Government to remain committed to our ambitions for the country.”

representation in our Company, and I am very pleased to have been able to promote two of our local talents to CxO level,” says Tellmann.

Telenor has introduced employee benefits spanning from six months paid maternity leave, in addition

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to providing free health insurance, flexible working hours and shuttle bus services. Motivated and inspired employees provides a competitive advantage, and are therefore the Company’s most important asset.

Tellmann adds “I want our employees

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Think Global, Act Local The leading premier passive infrastructure company in Myanmar with 2,800 towers built.

IGT is committed to ensuring highest standards of safety, health, security and welfare for all our employees, contractors and visitors.

Our moral obligations towards maintaining healthier community and non-polluted society has resulted in several “Go Green” initiatives.

Lars Erik Tellman, Chief Executive Officer at Telenor Myanmar

to be part of a working culture where we all are willing to go the extra mile to make our services outstanding.

Building a workplace that empowers employees, recognises and rewards performance and provides for caretaking benefits is among my key priorities.”

New partnerships

As with the importance of the Company’s relationship with the Government, a number of key partnerships have been formed since Telenor last spoke to Asia Outlook in 2016.

“A recent agreement for us has been with Myanmar Bureau Veritas (BV) enabling BV to utilise the skills and expertise that Telenor has invested in its experienced supply chain professionals,” adds Tellmann.

“This should allow for the benefit of all companies in Myanmar and acts as a prime example of how we can contribute to raising standards for

Enquiries corporate@igt.com.mm procurement@igt.com.mm www.igt.com.mm

We are more than willing to support other businesses in order to aid them and Myanmar in growth and development

Irrawaddy Green Towers Limited International Commercial Center, No.422/426 7th & 8th Floor Bothataung Township, Yangon, Myanmar

all companies and their operations in Myanmar.”

Looking forward it is pivotal for the Company that it forms key partnerships such as the aforementioned and that Myanmar will continue to embrace the opportunities that come with it, as well as the opportunities that come with having state-of-the-art digital infrastructure for business.

“We look for collaborative ways to support other local businesses in order to encourage growth and development in conjoining sectors,” concludes Tellmann. “We firmly believe that moving forward, it is paramount that we share infrastructure amongst all operators as this will ensure much smarter investment deployment in remote and rural areas, and accelerate access to services for all mobile customers of Myanmar. Today this is unfortunately not the case, and it represents a clear opportunity for the coming year.”

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Telenor House No 40, Sattmu-1 Road (No-1 Industrial Road) Bahan Township Yangon Myanmar Tel: + 95 9 790 097900 care@telenor.com.mm

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