Monday, December 24, 2012

GSM SIM cards to go on sale in January

1 comments
 
Monday, 24 December 2012 11:05 Khin Myo Thwe

GSM SIM cards with 3G service will go on sale in Burma for around 120,000 kyat (US $140) perhaps as early as the first week in January 2013, according to a head staffer at state-run Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications (MPT).

“Although we haven’t set an exact date, we plan to launch these SIM cards to the public very soon,” said Second Head Engineer Soe Aung, speaking recently to Mizzima.

A CDMA phone and SIM card recharge coupons. A telephone service is still out of reach for many Burmese citizens, but options are suddenly becoming more affordable. (Photo: Mizzima)

“We are currently setting up the required equipment such as towers,” he said. “Once everything is ready, we will start to sell the cards to the public. However neither a date nor a price has yet been fixed.”

He confirmed that the cards will have 3-G mobile coverage and that they will be distributed to all Divisions and States in Burma at the same time.

“For the customers’ convenience, MPT will sell the SIM cards in 11 places, while Yatanarpon Teleport will sell them in five locations in Yangon municipality region, and seven places beyond Yangon.”

He said he believes some 1.4 million cards will be available immediately.

He said that, in Rangoon, the cards will be for sale at: Yangon Post Office; Pazundaung Post Office; Botahtaung Post Office; Ahlon Post Office; 40th Street Telephone Office; Pansodan Telegraph Office; and Shwegondaing Telephone Office.

However, not everyone was immediately impressed. “If we buy a SIM card elsewhere in Southeast Asia, it only costs $20,” said Ma Nan Htway, a Burmese student in Thailand.
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Related articles:

http://www.mizzima.com/business/8093-sim-card-prices-remain-high-in-burma.html

http://www.mizzima.com/business/7756-mpt-tenders-mobile-sim-card-bids.html

One Response so far.

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