Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) is in talks with potential foreign partners, including Orange, according to the Myanmar Times.

Managing director U Aung Maw said the plan is for MPT to become a corporation that is separate from the state and to find a partner.

“We are now in the preparation process discussing a joint venture agreement with a foreign giant,” he said.

A foreign partner would assist with running MPT’s mobile network and competing with Ooredoo and Telenor, the two entrants licensed earlier this year.

U Aung Maw did not confirm Orange by name, but said MPT has talked with operators from France, Singapore, Japan, and other western countries.

A consortium of Orange and Japan’s Marubeni  finished third in the race for licences earlier this year, losing out to Ooredoo and Telenor.

Orange senior vice president Dominique Espinasse confirmed to the Myanmar Times that the French operator has had contact with the government over a partnership with MPT.

Incumbent MPT is the country’s sole mobile operator with 6.5 million subscribers (GSMA Intelligence figures, Q2 2013 figures).  Another entity called Yatanarpon Teleport Co (YTP) also holds a mobile licence, in addition to the two newcomers.