Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Myanmar 2015
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Myanmar is at the beginning of a telecoms boom, and consumers will soon have access to a plethora of new services that can fully alter the way business, social activities, education, and every aspect of society is run. Myanma SIM cards at one time retailed for $3000 each, severely limiting access, but as of 2014 citizens can connect their phones for just $1.50. The entrance of new players to the sector is expected to create demand for a number of ICT services companies, drawing upon the skills of web designers, network professionals and programmers. However, education and human resources are a major challenge and local talent is hard to find. As the sector develops, access to information will enable the country’s citizens to thrive in areas that have been blocked for decades.

This chapter contains a roundtable with Takashi Nagashima, Managing Director, KSGM; Ross Cormack, CEO, Ooredoo Myanmar; Peter Furberg, CEO, Telenor Myanmar; and U Shane Thu Aung, CEO, Yatanarpon Teleport/Royal Yatanarpon; and an interview with U Thein Oo, Chairman, Myanmar ICT Development Corporation (MIDC).

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

New legislation will improve the foreign investment climate for real estate
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In August and September 2014 two new mobile network operators (MNOs) launched in Myanmar, delivering state-of-the-art services to compete with the state’s monopoly. The country is now a fierce telecoms battleground as each company vies to attract Myanmar’s 51m potential mobile users. From under 10% mobile penetration in 2013, the country is due to exceed 97% teledensity in five years, introducing a host of modern services that promise to transform the country. Leapfrogging decades of technological…

Analysis

Mobile financial services and knowledge-based apps hit the market
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Myanmar’s telecoms developments will undoubtedly transform the social and economic fabric of the country, but beyond basic voice, data and SMS services a host of other products are being developed, including one of the most successful and transformative services of recent years: mobile money. The developments in the telecoms and financial services industries have been some of the most radical changes since President U Thein Sein’s government began the reform process in 2011. But where these…

Overview

BG talks to Takashi Nagashima, Managing Director, KSGM; Ross Cormack, CEO, Ooredoo Myanmar; Petter Furberg, CEO, Telenor Myanmar; and U Shane Thu Aung, CEO, Yatanarpon Teleport/Royal Yatanarpon
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Interview:Takashi Nagashima,Ross Cormack,Petter Furberg,U Shane Thu Aung With mobile penetration on the rise, how can local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) capitalise on the advancement of the telecoms sector? TAKASHI NAGASHIMA:Not until recently have mobile services been a common tool in Myanmar. Through the advancements of telecommunications, SMEs, large corporates and individuals can have access to mobile services. The combined efforts of all sector operators…

Interview

U Thein Oo, Chairman, Myanmar ICT Development Corporation (MIDC): Interview
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Interview: U Thein Oo Which industries do you think will take the most advantage of progress in ICT? U THEIN OO: Ongoing developments within the IT sector coupled with an expanding telecoms network will promote development across many sectors. The financial services industry, particularly banking, is one of the sectors where we can already see the benefits of ICT in the form of ATMs, e-banking and mobile banking, which is expected to rapidly rise with mobile penetration. We are also developing…

Overview

Efforts needed to improve infrastructure and human resources
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Myanmar’s IT sector is beginning to feel the effects of the telecoms revolution as a result of the sector’s major reform process, but fixed-line connections and related infrastructure have a long way to go to catch up with the aggressive developments from mobile operators Ooredoo, Telenor and Myanmar Post and Telecommunication (MPT). The general spread of internet connectivity will transform Myanmar, but social issues could arise. With a freer information flow and less government control, some…