Seventeen Myanmar companies have applied to join a consortium that will receive Myanmar's fourth mobile license.
Myanmar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology will announce the winning companies next month, Reutersreported.
Only companies that have been in operation at least three months and have at least 3 billion kyat ($2.3 million) in registered capital will be considered.
There will be no limit on the number of local companies that can join the consortium. Selected companies will collaborate with a foreign partner, which is likely to be another international operator. The final consortium is expected to be granted a 15-year telecom license by the end of the year.
The ministry first announced plans to allocate a fourth mobile license last month, stating an intention to lift competition in the sector and further stimulate the development of Myanmar's mobile market.
Once established the new applicant will be competing with Telenor Myanmar and Ooredoo Myanmar, whose parent companies won the tender to become Myanmar's first private mobile operators following the liberalization of the sector in 2013.
The new entrant will also be going head to head with the consortium between state-owned operator Myanmar Posts and Telecom and Japan's KDDI.