OREANDA-NEWS. A consortium of companies consisting of Sumitomo Corporation, NEC Corporation and NTT Communications Corporation have built communications infrastructure for the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Myanmar) that improves internet connectivity and supports greater economic development. The consortium is providing operational support for the communications infrastructure until mid-January 2014, when the project is scheduled for completion. To commemorate the completion of the construction, a handover ceremony will be held in the capital Naypyidaw today.

The construction of this communications infrastructure was conducted under an agreement concluded on 14 May 2013 between the consortium and Myanmar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in support of the country's "Emergency communications network improvement plan." The plan capitalizes on 1.71 billion yen in Official Development Assistance (ODA) that was granted to the government of Myanmar by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an independent administrative agency, following requests from the Myanmar government for assistance from the Japanese government. This is the first infrastructure project in Myanmar that capitalizes on ODA from Japan since Japan's adoption of a new economic cooperation policy towards Myanmar in April 2012.

The development of this network aims to improve Myanmar's communications infrastructure to a level that rivals that of developed markets, while promoting economic revitalization and improving the quality of people's daily lives. This infrastructure will contribute to smooth telecommunications during the 27th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) which will be held in Myanmar from 11 - 22 December 2013. As Myanmar's international presence continues to increase, illustrated by events such as its selection to be the 2014 chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the consortium aims to continue to support the development of Myanmar's communications infrastructure.