According to reports, since February 1, 2021, more than 17 foreign investment companies ranging from retail to manufacturing have left or suspended operations in Myanmar.
Undoubtedly, the contributing factors behind these decisions are usually complex, taking into account the high-risk nature of operations, the difficulties involved in ensuring the smooth operation of services, and concerns about employee safety.
For M1 Group, we firmly believe that reliable telecommunications infrastructure is essential to economic and social development, which is why we are willing to conduct business in countries such as Myanmar.
In today’s world, access to the Internet and basic communication services should represent a basic human right, second only to housing, food and medicine-that’s why, unlike other operators, we are willing to accept the benefits of operating in a challenging environment. The reason for the big risk.
However, although as a successful holding company, many independent, reliable and mature telecom operators are committed to providing critical infrastructure for some of the world’s poorest people, the accusations against M1 Group are precisely because we are willing to operate in these markets. Business-including unfounded, false and biased claims.
Direct record
M1 Group was born in a high-risk environment because it believed that everyone should get basic communication services. In the late 1970s, civil strife in Lebanon destroyed most of the country’s infrastructure and communications were interrupted.
The two entrepreneurial co-founders of M1 Group wanted to solve this situation and installed a satellite antenna similar to that used by ships at sea on the roof of the office. These are the beginnings of our journey.
Our founders believe in meeting the urgent needs of Lebanon and other emerging markets for telecommunications infrastructure and services, and this belief remains at the core of our business today.
Our decision to operate in a difficult market will bring risks and consequences, as well as misunderstandings, mainly caused by unknowing observers. However, in the absence of evidence or acceptable evidence, many unfounded and false accusations were made against us.
M1 Group is proud to say that we conduct business with the highest standards. So far, in any country in the world, M1 Group has not failed to uphold or disrespect consumer rights, and no one in the company has been convicted for any conduct involving corruption or corporate malfeasance.
Since launching its business, M1 Group has been upholding human rights and respecting the laws of the countries/regions where it operates. It also advocates consumer protection regulations on data security, data resilience, privacy, connectivity, roaming, and Internet access.
M1 Group has and will always be committed to fulfilling all its legal and ethical obligations to millions of users worldwide.
Operating in a challenging environment is more important than ever
Countries around the world are struggling to cope with the severe health and economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and even the wealthiest among us cannot completely avoid its economic consequences. But in this special period of global economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever to ensure that we support countries that are unfortunate and may suffer disproportionate losses.
By ensuring that people in these countries have access to communications, M1 Group is determined to play its role in supporting them. In these times, we believe that this is no different from the responsibility of a company like ours, who can promote positive change in challenging places.
Although Myanmar faces political challenges, we intend to fulfill this responsibility by advancing plans to support its people through the pandemic. First, by cooperating with our partners, we will address the urgent need to ensure life-saving vaccination for the people of Myanmar.
Second, we have seen connectivity itself as the key to successful vaccination and monitoring of patient recovery in many countries. If there is an opportunity, we will find ways to use our telecommunications infrastructure in Myanmar to help carry out telemedicine programs to expand opportunities for vaccination, follow-up monitoring and follow-up.
As far as Myanmar is concerned, while waiting for regulatory approval, M1 Group will soon operate in one of the most challenging environments in the world—an environment where telecommunications towers are often blown up and cause inconvenience. Estimated economic and political risks.
However, even with the severity of these risks, we still believe that it has never been so important for companies like us to take risks and provide services to the 18 million users who need to get basic communication services to stay in touch with their loved ones and conduct business activities— —Not to mention the 730 employees who rely on the Internet for income.
To this end, we pledge to invest 330 million U.S. dollars in the next three years to expand and develop Myanmar’s telecommunications infrastructure and provide stable and reliable telecommunications services to the people of Myanmar.
Since our establishment, this vision has been our key differentiator and will continue to be so. We are willing to operate and support people in environments where others do not want or cannot, and we are proud of that. For the M1 Group, entering Myanmar is a risk, but it is a huge humanitarian reward for its people. This is why we are willing to take risks.
