Building a network, connecting a nation

Alternative descriptive text

Telenor came to Myanmar with a purpose: to connect the people of Myanmar with each other – and the world. Built on more than 20 years of experience in Asia, Telenor Myanmar became a leader in responsible business and lived its purpose of empowering societies and connecting customers to what matters most. Eight years later, Telenor was forced to exit.

Telenor was one of two international companies who won a telecom license in Myanmar in 2013. In September 2014, Telenor Myanmar launched commercial operations with a promise to make mobile communication accessible and affordable for all. The company expanded its coverage of voice and data services to reach more than 18 million people across the country covering 92% of the population. With rapid adaptation of data services, where customers embraced smartphones and internet connectivity, Telenor Myanmar introduced 4G services within 1,000 days of its launch.

The growth of Myanmar's telecom sector and the wider economy following the liberalization of the sector in 2014 points to the transformative effect connectivity can have on society, underpinned by innovation and major investments mobile operators continue to make. From 2013-2018, Telenor’s operations and investments in Myanmar added between 877 and 1272 million USD yearly in economic value to Myanmar’s economy, according to a Frontier Economics report commissioned by Telenor.

In parallel to building a modern, efficient telecom network, Telenor Myanmar focused on employee development and solid governance principles. The team also focused on raising standards in the vast supply chain, contributed to social impact through programs focused on child online safety, use of technology to support birth and death registrations and worked extensively with civil society organisations.

Unfortunately, the extraordinary situation since the military takeover on 1 February 2021 made it impossible for Telenor to continue operations in Myanmar. On 25 March 2022, Telenor announced the completion of the sale of Telenor Myanmar.

This page is dedicated to information about Telenor’s operations in Myanmar, since 2014 and in the time after the military takeover.