Bhutan did not have any mobile phone operator in the private sector. However, this is going to change now. Bhutanese government has short listed 4 companies to bid for the license of providing mobile phone service in the private sector. One company will get the license under which it will be allowed to operate its service for 15 years.
Reported:
“The winning bidder will operate the license for a period of 15 years and will have to make an upfront payment of 25 percent of the winning bid after the auction and the remaining amount over the 15-year period.
Of the four shortlisted companies three are joint ventures. The Singye Group has tied up with Indian giants- Reliance, Druktel, a consortium of Bhutanese companies has tied up with Airtel India and Bhutan Steel is with a Thai company- Shin Satellite Public Corporation Limited. BIMA has mandated that the Bhutanese partner must hold the majority 51 percent equity in joint ventures.
The Tashi Group is the only company bidding on its own.”
At this moment, state owned Bhutan Telecom is the sole mobile phone service provider in Bhutan. So, the introduction of a private operator will benefit the consumers. They will get mobile phone service at a competitive price and environment.
The introduction of a private operator will surely help to increase teledensity in Bhutan.
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The Bhutan Govt. has taken a good initiative that they are going to bid telecommunication service in private sector. Obviously, the peoples of Bhutan will be benefited by it and they will get mobile phone service at the cheap ret. The telecommunication sector of Bhutan will be more competitive
Posted by: Ratan Kumar Panday | November 30, 2007 9:13 AM | Permalink to Comment