Government to upgrade MPT with World Bank loan

The state-owned Myanmar Posts and Telecommunication (MPT) will be transformed into a public corporation with World Bank loans, according to a deputy minister.

The government plans to use a US$261.1 million loan from the World bank to transform MPT into a corporation which can fulfil fundamental communication services, according to Deputy Minister Thaung Tin.

"The ministry will receive US$31.5 million under the programme 'International Development Association' from World Bank and will implement a Telecommunications Sector Reform Project using the loan," he said.

The ministry will spend the money to provide and install a radio wave management and measurement system, as well as to transform MPT into a corporation which can fulfil fundamental communication services in rural areas.

The government also plans to use the loan for capacity building for civil servants and to support the establishment of an e-Government Interoperability Framework, the deputy minister said.

Currently the ministry needs funding to upgrade the telecommunication network. The ministry can back funding through taxation from local and overseas operators after the telecommunication network is operating, he said.

 

source: Eleven Myanmar

http://elevenmyanmar.com/national/3235-government-to-upgrade-mpt-with-world-bank-loan