Burma Introduces Prepaid Card System for Mobile Phones

Mobile phone users in Burma can now buy “top-ups” for their phones to replace the existing billing system. (Photo: http://www.pophorn.net)

Burma's Ministry of Telecommunications, Post and Telegraphs has finally agreed to allow mobile phone users to buy “top-ups” for their phones to replace the existing billing system.


Sources at the ministry in Naypyidaw said that prepaid top-up cards will be produced by the E-lite Tech company, a subsidiary of the Htoo Trading Company, in collaboration with semi-government-owned Myanmar Teleport.




Currently, Burma has both GSM and CDMA networks. A WCDMA network was launched in 2009, but with very limited availability.


Burma introduced a cellular phone system in 1993, followed by the CDMA system in 1997 and the GSM system in 2002.


“Anyone can install the system on their mobile phones at any E-lite Tech shop or its affiliates,” an official said. “However, the phone service will be suspended for a day while the new system is installed.”


Traditionally, Burma's telecommunications have been dominated by the state-owned monopoly telephone service provider, Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT). However, Central Marketing and E-Lite have reportedly been given the contract because they have the technology and infrastructure to provide better service.


In January, Myanmar Teleport and six privately owned companies—including E-Lite and Redlink, owned by Toe Naing Mann, the son of Burma's former No. 3 general, “Thura” Shwe Mann—have introduced a VoIP system in mobile phones that is now available in cities including Rangoon, Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin.


Telecommunications authorities said they are building more cross-border fiber optic links with neighboring countries in addition to China, Thailand and India to improve domestic Internet communication links. They also said that they are are planning to expand GSM coverage to its neighbors including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and China.


Burma's mobile market has been growing at an annual rate in excess of 25 percent over the last three years, although foreign investment in the telecoms sector continues to remain low.


According to research by Paul Budde Communication Pty Ltd., released on September 2010, investment in Burma's telecoms sector has been running at less than $6 million per year.


The statistical figures show that the telephone density now stands 37 per 1,000 of the population.


Source:http://irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=20818