IDG News Service -
In Yangon, Myanmar, giant Samsung billboards hang overhead as dozens of
handset shops line the crowded city streets and advertise the latest
smartphones. Just a few years ago, you wouldn't have seen such a sight,
said Soe Nyi Nyi, a local tech entrepreneur.
"There's been a lot of changes," he said. "There's a lot of mobile phone shops now."
Only a year ago, buying a SIM card in Myanmar could cost around
$250. Go back further, and the price was as high as $2,000 or more, with
control of the telecommunications network strictly regulated by the
nation's then military government. The high prices put handsets out of
the reach of many, and even now only about 5% of the population use
mobile phones, according to industry experts.
But all that is starting to change as Myanmar transitions to
democracy. For the first time, mobile phones are becoming affordable
under reforms brought on by the new government. Handsets could soon end
up flooding the market, bringing the Internet to millions, and
potentially raising the quality of life in one of Asia's poorest
countries.
Ask people in Yangon, a city of 6 million, and many will say with
optimism that the country is on the right track since Myanmar's nominal
civilian government took power in 2011. Online censorship has largely
ended, political prisoners have been freed, and foreign governments,
including the U.S., have lifted or eased sanctions against the nation.
"Yes, it's better, we have free speech," said Chan Mya, a taxicab
driver. "In the former times it was impossible. There are many
newspapers now."
But in terms of technology, Myanmar is one of the least connected
places in the world. The country's Internet penetration is at around
1%, and few know how to use PCs. Simple things such as electricity can
be hard to come by, and people generally live off low incomes of between
$80 and $150 a month.
It hasn't helped that Myanmar, also known as Burma, once took a
hostile stance against the Internet, and tried to stamp out online
dissent. Some like local blogger Nay Phone Latt have been jailed for
spreading news on anti-government protests. In 2008, he was sentenced to
prison, only to be released four years later as part of a mass
presidential pardon.
Since then, Nay Phone Latt has started an NGO, called the Myanmar ICT for Development Organization,
that helps train people in different towns to use the Internet. Most of
the people instructed are in their 20s, and want to look for jobs, he
said. "They want to read the news, and share the local news," he added.
"The young people look for educational opportunities, scholarships."
But the group can only venture out so far. Out in Myanmar's rural
areas, electricity can be scarce, along with PCs. "In some places we
cannot teach the Internet, because there is no Internet," Nay Phone Latt
said. "People are not familiar with computers."
In urban areas like downtown Yangon, Internet access is available
at local Internet cafes that charge about $0.32 an hour. At the Lifenet
cafe, access speeds reach only 0.30Mbps, but it is enough for
27-year-old Sai Woon Tip to visit Facebook, perhaps Myanmar's most
popular website. On the site, users can easily share news with one
another, especially articles on controversial topics, he said.
Big changes, however, are in store for Myanmar's tech landscape.
Over the next three years, the country's government wants to raise
mobile penetration to between 75% and 80%. To do so, Myanmar is opening
up the nation's telecommunications industry, and is seeking bids from
foreign telecom groups to improve the nation's mobile network. On June
27, the government will announce the two successful bidders.
"When the licenses are issued, it's expected the two operators
will hit the ground running," said Thaung Su Nyein, the managing
director of local IT and media company Information Matrix. "They'll just
sell the hell out of the whole market."
Already, Myanmar has released a limited number of SIM cards for
the low price of $1.50. But soon cheap phone plans will become available
to millions, along with faster connection speeds, including the
potential for 4G services, according to local industry watchers. In the
meantime, major handset vendors are gearing for the future demand.
Last November, Samsung Electronics entered the Myanmar market,
and in May, the company held an event to launch its Galaxy S4 smartphone
in the country. Taiwan's HTC has also opened up shop, and like others,
localized its handsets with the Burmese language.
"Myanmar people like HTC, iPhone, Samsung," said Htoo Htet, a
saleswoman at a Yangon handset store. But low-price phones from Chinese
handset maker Huawei are the most popular, she said. An average Huawei
handset can cost $125 as opposed to the Samsung Galaxy S4, which can go
for $660.
Companies including Google have made visits to Myanmar and lauded
the changes in the country. But bringing the Internet to the country's
populace will take more than just phones. Two major bottlenecks are the
country's sub-standard infrastructure and its low education levels, said
Tun Thura Thet, CEO of local software firm Myanmar Information
Technology.
"We do not have enough computers in the schools. The teaching
methods, the teaching aids, the facilities, everything has to be
revised," he said. "I think it is important we have high-income
employment."
Others like local resident 49-year-old Kaung San hope to see
changes in their lives soon. Things are getting better, he said, but
still very slowly.
"Low salary is the main problem," he added."The Samsung Galaxy S4 is $600. I cannot buy. It's for rich people."
source: Computer World
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