Name : Aye Mya Mya Kyi
Position : CEO of Amara Communications, Deputy CEO of Ananda
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How did you end up in currentposition at Amara Communications?
I first joined IGE Group of Companies, which is the parent company of Amara Communications, in 2002. Back then I was charged with helping the company expand overseas and set up presence abroad. Fast forward to 10 years later, in 2012 I was appointed the General Manager of Amara Communications, and was later promoted to be the CEO of Amara Communications Co. Ltd (ACS), which is a turnkey telecommunications services provider with expertise across a range of telecom engineering areas. ACS is also partner to many of the country’s telco operators and infrastructure service providers. I continue to hold this role while concurrently serving as Deputy CEO of ananda, which is Myanmar’s first 4G+ data operator.
Could you tell me more about your duties and responsibilities?
As captain of the ship, I set strategy and direction for the companies I lead, as well as model and set our culture, values and behaviour. My responsibilities also include making top-level management decisions and leading the development and execution of both our long-term and short-term strategies. As a local service provider, which is an extension of the group, the company has successfully entered into the mobile broadband market to provide the data. This is a huge achievement for the group and right now, we’re focusing all efforts on launching ananda.
ananda provides very high quality 4G+ quality service on the 2600 MHz high frequency spectrum, with the early phase of the launch set in Yangon. Aside from offering access to quality 4G+, ananda will also provide compelling Internet packages for families, reasonable package rates and highly competitive services. With that, we’re working towards delivering excellent customer experience across all touch points, as well as offering a suite of products and services to allow people to embrace a digital lifestyle like never before.
What kinds of service does Amara Communications provide for local and international companies?
A m a r a C o m m u n i c a t i o n s i s a telecommunications service provider that has been operating in Myanmar since 2011. Building on the fast-growing telecom market in Myanmar, at Amara Communications we laid out a strategy to tap into mobile infrastructure and production. We provide expertise at each stage of the telecommunications operation process in five major areas: civil work, tower, power, radio equipment installation and operation maintenance. In 2016, we won the license to operate a high-speed 4G+ network on the 2600 MHz spectrum. I’m happy to share with you the news that in late Q1 2018 we’ll be launching ananda, a 4G+ data operator that enables a liberating digital experience to consumers and enterprise users.
What kind of projects is your team currently undertaking?
We are deploying our own state-ofthe-art 4G+ network on 2600 MHz frequency bandwidth which can deliver a liberating digital experience to consumers and enterprise users. Upon its launch, ananda’s services will be available in Yangon. Our coverage will gradually expand to Mandalay, Ayeyawady, Rakhine, Sagaing, Chin, Shan, Kachin and Kayah.
Who are the target customers of Amara Communications?
We are targeting consumers and enterprise users are high-speed, highquality and reliable connectivity at value-for-money packages.
How do you secure such highprofile clients and partners?
Something I always tell my management team and staff is to position ourselves as an authority that clients would want to work with, and to back it up by delivering results. There’s this quote from Zig Ziglar that I like, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” I think it goes a long way in driving the success of anyone, any company. What is the target market segment for Amara Communications? We are committed to deliver a liberating digital experience to consumers and enterprise users in Myanmar. Our target market broadly falls under these segments: information value seekers, social media addicts, speed seekers, master users, multimedia downloaders, and technology enthusiasts – and basically all those who are heavy data users, whether they are millennials, families, or businesses.
Who are your major competitors and what are your competitive strategies?
M y a n m a r m a r k e t h a s g r o w i n g opportunities with the changing data demand and technology. To fulfil the burgeoning data demand, we are playing a role in an ecosystem that is ever expanding. There are many areas where we can complement the service offering of companies that might otherwise be perceived as our competitors. We view them as potential partners rather than competitors to create a sustainable and more customer-centric ecosystem.
We have arrived where we are today not because we won over competition, but because we have risen above it. The services we provide are unique, world-class and customer-oriented. Customers can expect from us a robust network infrastructure, which translates into consistently reliable and highquality connection, wherever you are. This focus on quality has enabled us to thrive and grow as a company and we are committed to continue and carry this forward.
What is your view on telecom i n f r a s t r u c t u r e m a r k e t i n Myanmar?
Since the liberalisation of the telecom sector five years ago, the wind has been blowing in the right direction. We’ve seen how mobile penetration has continued, and will continue, to increase at rates above those of our neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia. With that,investment has also grown, which leads to wider benefits to the public in the form of lower, competitive prices. I’d like to see Myanmar recognised as a success story of leapfrogging technology, of a nation whose commerce and wellbeing are enhanced by the presence of solid telecom infrastructure and connectivity.
What are your future expansion plans and projects for the company?
We’re launching ananda services in Yangon soon, and from there, we’ll be focusing our efforts on ensuring that everything goes well and our customers will be pleased with the service. Since acquiring the 4G+ spectrum license from the Myanmar government in 2016, we have undertaken a substantial investment in manpower, know-how and technology. In the coming years, our investment will be driven by foreverevolving technologies that provide our customers with access to information in more and more innovative and creative ways at attractive rates, but also accepting our duty as a responsible corporate citizen, by offering future employment opportunities, facilitating access to self-learning, self-development and self-employment, and supporting digital nation-building efforts.
From a business standpoint, what do you feel are the biggest challenges facing you and your team in next 1-3 years?
I think there’s always that constant but positive pressure to deliver better, higher-quality services. It goes without saying that the way people communicate is always changing, so we need to constantly re-evaluate how we deliver our services to keep up with that change and adapt our strategy, if need be. We’ll be looking into ways to provide an internet experience with that is high quality and high speed, leading Myanmar into the next digital era. As our tagline goes, we want internet users in Myanmar to live more.
If you could make one major changes to any government policy, what would it be?
The government holds a pivotal role in developing the industry and in creating conditions in which businesses thrive and in ushering in a truly digital environment that will benefit the whole country. That said, we would welcome policies to support these and enable companies like us to fulfil business goals, bridge the digital divide, and contribute to the Myanmar’s long-term growth.
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