Phone number fetches over Bt3m in Myanmar
A MYANMAR national paid 112 million kyats (Bt3.23 million) for a phone number. The number 0977 7777777 was among 55 special numbers put on auction on Thursday by Telenor Myanmar.
It fetched the single highest bid at the auction, which netted a total of 483.5 million kyats.
The auction price started at 3 million kyats.
Coming second at 42 million kyats was 0977 9999999 and third was 09778888888 at 33 million kyats.
The auction process was assured by law firm MN Associates, and observed by audit firm Deloitte Touche Myanmar Vigour Advisory Ltd.
“We are thrilled at the support received for this initiative, and deeply thank all who came to bid and raise funds for a very worthy cause,” said Petter Furberg, chief executive officer of Telenor Myanmar.
“While we recognise the appeal of owning special numbers, it is clear that many were inspired by the opportunity to support our education programme for underprivileged and poor children.
“All the money collected will be given to myME and support our plans to provide education to more than 5,000 to 10,000 children in 2016.”
Telenor announced earlier that all profits above the reserve price of three million kyats per number would be channelled to fund digital education efforts organised by its partner Myanmar Mobile Education’s (myME) programmes in 2016.
It also announced that it would hold future auctions in other states and divisions, for which dates and times will be announced in the future.
