Myanmar braces for mobile phone boom as Internet access trickles in

June 14, 2013

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 US$250. Go back further, and the price was as high as $2000 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 percent 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.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

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