Qatari-owned cellco Ooredoo has announced plans to launch 4G services in Yangon and Mandalay by the end of May, but a wider launch will require the company to secure more spectrum from the regulator, the Myanmar Times writes, citing Ooredoo Myanmar CEO Rene Meza. As part of its original concession, Ooredoo was granted the option to purchase additional spectrum for a fee and the cellco applied for the additional airwaves several months ago. ‘That will give us enough room for the 4G launch,’ the official explained, adding: ‘To allow customers to get access to 4G services [throughout Myanmar], obviously we need additional spectrum.’ The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MCIT, recently changed from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology) is due to auction off the 2600MHz later this year, with 1800MHz airwaves scheduled to go on sale in Q1 2017, or nine months after the 2600MHz tender. Until the spectrum becomes available, Ooredoo will use the 900MHz and 2100MHz bands for its 4G services.