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Mytel


Mytel, officially known as Telecom International Myanmar Company Limited, is a major telecommunications operator in Myanmar, serving as one of the nation's four national mobile network carriers. Launched commercially on June 9, 2018, it provides mobile voice, data plans, internet access, and value-added services, pioneering nationwide 4G LTE coverage as the first operator to achieve such extensive deployment. By 2024, Mytel had amassed over 13 million subscribers, establishing itself as the third-largest telecom provider in the country through aggressive expansion and infrastructure investments. Operated as a , Mytel is majority-controlled by Global Investment, a of Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence holding 49% ownership, with the remaining significant stakes linked to military conglomerates such as Star High Public Company Limited (28%), a front for the military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited. This structure has enabled rapid rollout of services but ties the company's revenues directly to military interests, with projections indicating substantial profits flowing to Myanmar's armed forces. Mytel's growth has been marked by notable achievements in amid Myanmar's challenging terrain and gaps, yet it faces scrutiny over its military affiliations. In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce's added Mytel to its , imposing export restrictions due to its role in supporting Burma's military through ownership and operations that enable risks. Critics, including human rights groups, have highlighted Mytel's provision of free SIM cards to and its contribution to funding post-2021 coup, though the operator maintains focus on service delivery and innovation.

History

Establishment and Licensing

Telecom International Myanmar Co., Ltd., trading as Mytel, was established in 2016 as a aimed at entering Myanmar's market. The included Vietnam's Group, which held 49% ownership, alongside Myanmar partners Star High Public Co., Ltd. (28%)—a subsidiary linked to the military-owned Myanmar Economic Corporation—and Myanmar National Telecom Holding Public Co., Ltd. (23%). This formation followed Myanmar's partial liberalization, which had previously issued licenses to state-owned MPT, Norway's , and Qatar's in 2013–2014. On January 12, 2017, the Posts and granted Mytel the nation's fourth and final nationwide operator . The authorized full mobile and fixed-line services across , with a 15-year validity period and option for renewal upon compliance with regulatory terms, including infrastructure rollout obligations and foreign investment caps under the 2013 Law. Unlike prior licensees selected via international tender, Mytel's approval involved direct negotiations with the government, reflecting strategic priorities for rapid network expansion using Viettel's expertise. The licensing process emphasized commitments to underserved rural coverage and deployment from inception, bypassing legacy / technologies, as stipulated in the agreement. Mytel's entry aligned with government goals to boost penetration from under 50% in 2017, though critics noted the military's indirect stake via Star High raised concerns over potential infrastructure integration.

Launch and Initial Expansion

Mytel commenced commercial operations in on April 24, 2018, initially offering services in Naypyitaw, eastern , and , marking it as the first provider in the country to deploy a nationwide network from launch. The official launch ceremony occurred on June 6, 2018, with formal service rollout confirmed by June 9, following a ceremonial first call transmitted on February 13, 2018. This entry as the fourth operator prioritized rural and underserved areas, aligning with a to invest over US$2 billion initially in network buildout, including 7,200 base transceiver stations and 33,000 km of . Initial expansion accelerated rapidly, with services extended to cover all 15 states and regions by May 2018, aiming for over 95% national coverage within the year. By late 2018, Mytel had begun SIM card sales and network activation in the initial areas, expanding to major cities like and shortly thereafter. Subscriber acquisition surged post-launch, reaching 1 million users within 10 days of official operations, 2 million in the first month, and 3 million after three months, with over 70% adopting services. By January 2019, eight months after launch, Mytel had amassed 5 million subscribers, capturing approximately 14% and establishing itself as the third-largest operator. This growth was driven by affordable pricing, free distribution in rural zones, and infrastructure investments emphasizing connectivity in previously unserved regions, though early rollout included as a fallback alongside primary deployment.

Post-2021 Coup Developments

Following the military coup on February 1, 2021, Mytel faced widespread public boycotts in as consumers targeted businesses affiliated with the , leading to a reported revenue loss of $24.9 million over the three months from February to April 2021. The company's military ties, including a 51% stake held by Star High Public Co. Ltd.—linked to the Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Co. Ltd. (MEHL), a military conglomerate—intensified these protests, with campaigns urging avoidance of Mytel services to deny financial support to the regime. Despite the backlash, Mytel maintained operations, benefiting from the junta's consolidation of control over telecommunications infrastructure, which enabled selective and monitoring. The leveraged Mytel and other operators for enhanced post-coup, including tracking of protesters and journalists via mobile data, contributing to over 459 documented internet shutdowns between 2021 and 2024 that affected more than 200 townships. Reports indicate Mytel facilitated the 's ability to identify dissidents through location data and app monitoring, amid broader digital repression tactics like data price hikes and content blocking. organizations have accused Mytel of aiding military atrocities by providing technological support for and revenue streams that fund operations, though the company has not publicly disputed these operational continuities. In response to these developments, the United States added Mytel to its Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List on January 9, 2025, citing the company's role in enabling junta surveillance, human rights abuses, and financial backing for military activities since the coup. This marked the first U.S. restriction on a Myanmar telecom firm post-2021, prohibiting American entities from exporting technology to Mytel without licenses, amid calls from advocacy groups for international partners like Viettel—holding a 49% stake—to sever ties. Vietnamese state-owned Viettel has retained its investment, reportedly providing the junta with network upgrades that sustain Mytel's market presence despite ongoing resistance.

Ownership and Corporate Structure

Shareholders and Military Ties

Mytel is structured as a operated by Telecom International Myanmar Company Limited, with ownership divided among international and domestic entities. , a of Vietnam's -run , holds a 49% stake, providing technical expertise and infrastructure support. The exerts direct control through Star High Public Co., Ltd., a of the -owned Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), which possesses a 28% share; MEC, one of two primary conglomerates alongside Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), channels revenues off-budget to fund operations. The remaining approximately 23% is nominally held by National Telecom Holding Public Co., Ltd. (MNTH), a public-facing entity, though portions have been transferred to Star High, consolidating influence; Star High is registered as a private company despite government documents portraying it as public and under Ministry of Defense supervision. This structure enables substantial profit flows to leaders, with projections estimating over $700 million in entitlements to generals from 2021 onward based on revenue-sharing agreements and operational data. These ties have drawn international scrutiny, culminating in the U.S. Department of Commerce adding Mytel to its on January 6, 2025, citing its financial contributions and provision of surveillance tools that facilitate the regime's tracking of dissidents and violations. Mytel's reliance on infrastructure, including the Directorate of Signals for network access, further embeds it within operations, generating quarterly profits around $25 million that bypass national budgets. Critics, including reports from Justice For Myanmar drawing on leaked documents and corporate filings, argue this setup sustains impunity amid alleged international crimes, though -aligned sources maintain it as legitimate economic activity.

Governance and Financial Flows

Mytel's governance is structured as a under Telecom International Myanmar Co., Ltd. (TIM), with oversight by a representing major shareholders, including military-linked entities from and . The board is chaired by Khin Maung Soe, a senior advisor to the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), a military-owned conglomerate, ensuring alignment with interests. Key board positions are held by figures such as Mya Han, a crony and representative of Myanmar National Telecom Holding Public Co., Ltd. (MNTH), who also directs shareholder companies within MNTH like Royal Yatanarpon Telecom and Mahar Yoma, both with ties to military land leases and sanctioned individuals. This structure facilitates influence over strategic decisions, including network expansion and service prioritization for armed forces personnel, such as the distribution of hundreds of thousands of free SIM cards to active-duty members between 2018 and 2022. Ownership underpins governance, with TIM comprising 49% held by Global (controlled by Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence), 28% by Star High Public Co., Ltd. (a of the Myanmar military's MEC), and the remaining 23% by MNTH, a of firms with significant crony . Star High's stake represents the "" portion mandated by 's licensing terms, channeling and benefits directly to the rather than the national budget. MNTH shareholders, including Royal Yatanarpon (32.2% of MNTH) and Mahar Yoma (31.68%), are dominated by military affiliates and family networks of junta loyalists, such as Mya Han's holdings, amplifying indirect leverage despite the public facade. Financial flows begin with subscriber revenues, which Mytel monetizes through mobile services, , and infrastructure leasing, including from military-owned land for towers. Profits, after operational costs and fees to (including 2% management fees on turnover), are distributed as dividends proportional to shares, bypassing fiscal oversight. Mytel achieved profitability in early 2020, with dividends commencing around 2021; military-linked shares via Star High and MNTH entities entitle the to off-budget funds, projected at $270 million in years 5-9 and $450 million in years 10-14 of operations, totaling over $700 million across a decade based on 2017 forecasts. These proceeds support MEC's broader portfolio, funding military activities independent of state allocations and contributing to post-2021 coup resilience amid sanctions. The U.S. Commerce Department's addition of Mytel to its in January 2025 underscores these flows as enabling abuses, restricting U.S. tech exports.

Operations and Services

Network Infrastructure and Technology

Mytel primarily operates a LTE network in , utilizing the 2100 MHz (Band 1) frequency for its services. The infrastructure supports high-speed , with the operator claiming the largest coverage in the country, encompassing nearly 90% of the population. To achieve this coverage, Mytel invested approximately $1.5 billion in network rollout, deploying around 7,200 base stations nationwide as part of its initial expansion strategy focused on a -only architecture. Earlier phases targeted 93% geographic coverage for compatibility and 60% for , though subsequent builds emphasized dominance to support data-intensive services. In preparation for future upgrades, Mytel conducted Myanmar's first 5G technical trials in July 2019 on the 3.5 GHz (C-band) spectrum, achieving downlink speeds of up to 1.6 Gbps. These tests, partnered with Huawei for equipment and integration, positioned urban areas for potential early deployment, though no commercial 5G launch has occurred as of 2025. The trials demonstrated feasibility for enhanced capacity and low-latency applications, aligning with Viettel's expertise in similar Southeast Asian markets. Network resilience has been tested by events such as the April 2025 , where Mytel restored most mobile and international within days, underscoring the robustness of its distributed . Overall, the infrastructure prioritizes rapid rural expansion and to bridge Myanmar's gaps, though reliance on imported equipment exposes it to geopolitical supply risks.

Service Offerings and Subscriber Growth

Mytel provides mobile voice, , and data services via its nationwide network, supporting both prepaid and postpaid plans with various data bundles for daily, weekly, or monthly usage. International roaming and value-added features like through MytelPay, which facilitates QR-based payments and transfers, complement the core offerings. The operator has also introduced fixed via Fiber to the Home (FTTH), with packages delivering speeds up to 22 Mbps unlimited data, often bundled with mobile data allowances and on-net voice minutes for 32,000 monthly. Subscriber acquisition accelerated post-launch in June 2018, reaching 1 million users in the first 10 days through low-cost prepaid tariffs and extensive rural coverage. By February 2019, the base expanded to 5 million, exceeding initial targets of 4 million for the year amid aggressive expansion. Growth persisted into the early , surpassing 10 million subscribers by mid-2023 and establishing Mytel as Myanmar's largest operator by volume. Even following the 2021 military coup and related boycotts, the company reported around 13 million active subscribers in 2023, reflecting sustained demand for affordable connectivity despite economic disruptions.

Market Position and Economic Impact

Competition and Market Share

The Myanmar telecommunications market is dominated by four mobile network operators (MNOs)— Posts and Telecommunications (MPT), Myanmar, (formerly Myanmar), and Mytel—which collectively accounted for 100% of total mobile subscriptions as of 2024. , the state-owned established in 1885 and long the market leader, maintained a substantial base of 29.6 million subscribers at the end of 2023, representing significant control over infrastructure and broadband services. Myanmar and (rebranded as after its 2022 sale to local firm Shwe Byain Phyu) entered as foreign licensees in 2014, introducing that expanded coverage and reduced tariffs, though both faced divestitures post-2021 coup due to geopolitical risks, with completing its exit in May 2024. Mytel launched commercial services on May 15, 2018, as the fourth nationwide operator, rapidly scaling through low-cost bundles, extensive rural rollout, and partnerships enabling access to military-held land for towers, which facilitated subscriber growth to approximately 13 million by 2023. This aggressive strategy eroded shares from incumbents, with Mytel claiming leadership in subscribers by mid-2023 amid fierce pricing wars that boosted overall penetration to 117.4% (64.3 million connections) by early 2024. However, Mytel's documented ties to the military via Star High Public Co. triggered widespread consumer boycotts after the February 2021 coup, resulting in estimated losses of $24.9 million over three months in 2021 and potential subscriber churn, though it retained strong rural and military-aligned user bases. Competition remains constrained by regulatory favoritism toward MPT and military-linked entities, high infrastructure costs in a fragmented geography, and post-coup instability, including service disruptions and foreign exits that reduced innovation pressures. All operators have achieved over 95% population coverage by 2024, shifting focus to data services and trials, but market growth slowed to a projected 2.7% CAGR through 2031 amid economic contraction and sanctions. Mytel's position, while initially disruptive, has been vulnerable to political backlash, contrasting with MPT's entrenched dominance.

Contributions to Connectivity and Economy

Mytel has advanced connectivity in through extensive network expansion, prioritizing underserved rural regions since its 2018 launch. The company invested $2 billion in , including the of thousands of towers and fiber-optic cables to extend 4G LTE coverage nationwide. By 2023, this included 1,678 towers in and 956 in the , enabling broader access to data and voice services in areas previously lacking reliable . Such developments have supported digital inclusion, with 90% of surveyed users in regions like East Bago relying on data for daily activities. Subscriber growth underscores these connectivity gains, rising from 258,000 in East Bago in 2018 to 995,000 by December 2023, contributing to Mytel's national base of approximately 13 million users that year. This expansion has facilitated , information access, and government digitization efforts, fostering small and medium-sized enterprise () participation in the . Mytel's early trials, achieving speeds up to 1.6 Gbps on C-band in 2019, positioned for future broadband advancements despite uneven rural implementation. Economically, Mytel's operations have generated for nearly 6,500 local workers in deployment and related sectors, while its accumulated revenue exceeded $2 billion over five years, bolstering market revenues projected to reach $2.3 billion by 2030. These investments have indirectly stimulated downstream economic activity, such as improved service delivery for businesses and households, amid a sector contributing to Myanmar's penetration growth. However, rollout has slowed post-2021 due to political , limiting full realization of potential GDP multipliers from enhanced connectivity.

Controversies and Criticisms

Corruption and Funding Allegations

In December 2020, Justice For Myanmar published a 161-page report titled "Nodes of Corruption, Lines of Abuse," alleging that Mytel operates within a "web of and " that funnels off-budget revenue to the military, enabling its international crimes including war crimes and . The report claims Mytel, launched in June 2018, unlawfully utilizes state-owned military infrastructure—such as towers built on 38 military bases—to generate profits without or public oversight, with quarterly revenues estimated at $25 million by late 2020. Mytel's ownership structure is cited as evidence of cronyism, with 28% held by Star High Company Ltd., a subsidiary of the military-linked Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), despite claims of partial public ownership; the report asserts Star High is privately registered with shares controlled by individuals tied to the Ministry of Defence. An additional 49% is owned by Viettel, a subsidiary of Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence, while the remaining 23% is allocated to Myanmar private entities described as military cronies. The military's Directorate of Signals, overseen by Major General Thaw Lwin (also a Mytel director), allegedly directs network operations, prioritizing military communications over civilian needs and profiting from public assets. Funding allegations center on Mytel's role in providing non-transparent revenue streams to military conglomerates like MEC, which the report links to abuses in conflict zones such as , including ethnic minority displacements and killings. By 2020, Mytel had amassed over 10 million subscribers in a population of approximately 54 million, amplifying its financial contributions to the 's modernization efforts, including to international technology suppliers like and via partnerships. The report further implicates a global network of banks and businesses in indirectly financing these activities through loans and dealings with Mytel affiliates, though Mytel and the have not publicly refuted the specific claims in available records.

Surveillance, Censorship, and Human Rights Concerns

Mytel has been implicated in facilitating the Myanmar military junta's apparatus, as telecom operators including Mytel were compelled in late 2020 to install intercept enabling real-time monitoring of calls, text messages, and user locations. This infrastructure, expanded post the , 2021 coup, allows the junta to access data such as call logs and unencrypted messages using only a phone number, heightening risks to journalists, activists, and civilians. Since the coup, over 3,500 individuals have been killed and 17,900 detained, with telecom data contributing to arrests and lethal operations against dissenters. The company deploys advanced technologies from China's Geedge Networks, including the Tiangou Secure Gateway (TSG) system with deep packet inspection (DPI) capabilities, installed in data centers in Yangon and Mandalay to track 33.4 million internet users' traffic and geographic positions individually. This setup supports a national firewall for censorship, blocking 55 priority applications such as Signal and obstructing VPNs and Tor to suppress encrypted communications and anti-junta content. Mytel has also constructed cell towers on military bases, including in Ann, Kengtung, and Lashio, enhancing localized surveillance and aiding operations against groups like the Rohingya. Human rights concerns stem from Mytel's ties, with its provision of customized cards linked to IDs enabling the tracking of defecting soldiers and , thereby stifling internal . Profits projected to exceed $700 million over a decade flow to entities, funding atrocities including war crimes and , as documented in leaked Investment Commission proposals. Post-coup internet shutdowns, enforced via telecoms like Mytel, affected all 330 townships by 2022, with over 50 enduring restrictions exceeding one year, severely curtailing freedom of expression and assembly. These practices, rooted in Mytel's partial ownership by conglomerates, have drawn international condemnation for enabling a "digital dictatorship."

International Sanctions and Responses

In January 2025, the Department of Commerce's (BIS) added Telecom International Myanmar Company Limited, the operator of Mytel, to its , imposing restrictions on the export, re-export, and transfer of certain U.S.-origin items to the company due to its financial contributions supporting 's , which has been implicated in abuses following the 2021 coup. This designation, effective from January 6, 2025, targets Mytel's ties to military-owned entities, limiting access to U.S. technology and dual-use goods without a , though it stops short of full asset freezes or comprehensive trade bans under the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The and have not imposed direct sanctions on Mytel as of October 2025, despite maintaining broader restrictive measures against Myanmar's for human rights violations, including asset freezes and arms embargoes extended through April 2025. Non-governmental organizations, such as Burma Campaign , have urged the and to align with the U.S. action, citing Mytel's role in funding military operations through with junta-linked partners. Justice For Myanmar has documented Mytel's provision of free SIM cards to , amplifying calls for international isolation of the telecom as a revenue source for the regime. Post-2021 coup, civil society responses included consumer boycotts in , which reportedly cost Mytel at least $24.9 million in revenue over three months in through reduced subscriptions and retail disruptions led by anti-junta protesters. Advocacy groups have also pressed U.S. tech companies like and Apple to sever distribution ties with Mytel, arguing the sanctions designation necessitates compliance to avoid facilitating military-linked activities. , Mytel's Vietnamese majority stakeholder holding a 49% share, has issued no public response to the sanctions or coup-related criticisms, maintaining operations amid regional reluctance in to fully disengage economically with the junta.

Reception and Legacy

Achievements and Positive Assessments

Mytel has achieved significant subscriber growth since its commercial launch in on June 1, 2018, reaching over 10 million users within its first year and expanding to approximately 25 million subscribers by 2023, driven by affordable data plans and nationwide coverage. This rapid expansion positioned Mytel as a key player in Myanmar's telecom market, which grew at an average annual rate of 2.9% from 2023 onward, with Mytel contributing to increased penetration in underserved rural areas. The company invested more than in infrastructure by 2019, deploying over 5,000 base transceiver stations () and 30,000 kilometers of , enhancing across urban and remote regions. In August 2019, Mytel pioneered services in on the C-band at 3.5 GHz, achieving download speeds up to 1.6 Gbps, which supported early advancements in high-speed . These developments have been credited with boosting overall telecom sector contributions to , including improved business and digital transformation in . During the April 2025 in , Mytel played a pivotal role in by swiftly restoring communication networks for millions and providing free access to 1 GB of data, 300 call minutes, and 300 messages to over 4 million customers, facilitating coordination and reconnection efforts. Mytel has received international recognition for its marketing and operational innovations, including a Gold Stevie in 2019 for its "Shake The Amazing" campaign, which accelerated user adoption. Its digital , MytelPay, won a Globee for in 2023, highlighting advancements in integration. Additionally, Mytel was named "Hot Company of the Year" in by the 2022 IT World , and its former CEO received Telecom Asia's Telecom CEO of the Year in 2019 for leadership in market entry and expansion. These accolades reflect assessments of Mytel's effectiveness in scaling amid Myanmar's challenging landscape.

Criticisms from Activists and Governments

Activists, including those from Justice For Myanmar, have criticized Mytel for its role in enabling the military's and repression, alleging that the company's has been used to track civilians, activists, and military deserters through partnerships with , the Vietnamese state-owned firm holding a 49% stake. In December 2020, Justice For Myanmar published a report detailing how Mytel's military-linked ownership—via a 28% stake held by Star High, affiliated with the Myanmar Economic Corporation—facilitates state corruption and aids the military's international crimes by generating revenue that funds operations. Following the February 2021 coup, activists urged consumers to Mytel and destroy SIM cards, citing its complicity in providing communications networks that support military atrocities, which contributed to an estimated $24.9 million revenue loss for the company in the three months after the coup. In June 2022, Justice For Myanmar explicitly called for on Mytel, arguing its shareholders—including the conglomerate and Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence-linked —make it directly complicit in the 's violations. These groups have highlighted Mytel's continuation of operations under control as tantamount to financial support for repression, including through taxes and fees paid to entities, and have pressed global firms like and Apple to sever ties due to Mytel's role in enabling digital tracking. Governments have responded with targeted measures, most notably the United States Department of Commerce adding Mytel (operated by Telecom International Myanmar) to its Entity List on January 6, 2025, for providing surveillance technologies and financial services that bolster the military junta's human rights abuses and control over communications. This designation restricts U.S. exports to Mytel, citing its direct support for the regime's repressive apparatus, including post-coup internet shutdowns and monitoring enabled by telecom infrastructure installed in late 2020. Activist organizations such as Burma Campaign UK and Justice For Myanmar welcomed the U.S. action and advocated for the European Union and United Kingdom to impose parallel sanctions, emphasizing Mytel's status as a key revenue source for the junta's military expenditures. While the EU and UK have sanctioned other military-linked entities since 2021, they have not yet targeted Mytel specifically as of October 2025, despite ongoing calls linking its operations to broader digital rights violations.

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