Vodafone wants to offer its M-Pesa mobile money service in Myanmar, if its joint bid for a mobile licence in the country with China Mobile is successful, according to the Financial Times.

If the mobile money service is ever launched in Myanmar, it would be a first for M-Pesa in south east Asia. The service has made its name  in Africa, particularly Kenya where the service has been offered by Safaricom.

The lack of penetration in banking services could make M-Pesa popular in Myanmar, potentially with the country’s government as well as its users.