Global ride-hailing company Uber and telecoms operator Ooredoo Myanmar have signed a memorandum of understanding to make mobility and connectivity accessible to more people in Yangon.
The MoU was signed in Yangon on January 30, Ooredoo Myanmar said in a news release announcing the partnership agreement.
Ooredoo said it has created a special package that will enable Uber driver-partners to browse Uber for free and enjoy advantageous rates on data, SMS and voice calls.
This would enable the driver-partners to secure better margins and enhance their livelihoods because of the zero rating on the Uber app, the release said.
“This feature is very important to use as we know how much data costs can affect a livelihood, especially when they are tied to an income,” said Daw Ei Phyu Lwin, Uber’s general manager in Myanmar.
Support more independent journalism like this. Sign up to be a Frontier member.
The two companies also agreed on a framework to make transportation more accessible to riders in Yangon by bringing their resources together to reach those not yet familiar with Uber’s services, the release said.
“We hope that this strategic partnership will bring tangible and actionable solutions to people’s daily lives and fuel further Myanmar’s race to digitalisation,” said Mr Vikram Sinha, chief executive of Ooredoo Myanmar.
“Uber’s story in Myanmar has been one of collaboration: with the Yangon government when we entered, and now with Ooredoo Myanmar as we grow. Together, we aim to change the way the city moves and communicates,” said Ms Charity Safford, Uber’s general manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.
San-Francisco-based Uber, which operates in more than 630 cities worldwide, launched in Yangon in April last year.
It competes against Singapore-based, Grab, which launched its ride-hailing app in Yangon in March last year, and two Myanmar startups, Oway Ride and Hello Cabs.