In April, Myanmar Post and Telecommunication (MPT) unveiled a 1,500 Kyat (less than $ 2) worth CDMA mobile SIM to the public in the country and has reached the countryside recently but the costs has risen many folds, according to local news sources.


“What we know is that a SIM card worth only 1,500 Kyat. But what is being sold here now comes with a handset at 4,500 Baht ($ 150) each. Some people had to pay even 5,000 Baht ($ 167). People from the city told us the handset is on sale at 30,000 Kyat ($ 33) in the market. It is a Chinese made handset,” a Shan villager from Hwe Aw, Mongton told SHAN.

Although CDMA SIM card can be purchased by forwarding an application form to the authority at MPT in a ratio of ‘one family one SIM card’ quota, city high-profiles, business men, or owners of department stores are in co-operation with authorities and obtained beforehand. Thus they monopolize the market and a SIM card is sold with a handset in villages near the town or remote areas, said a villager.

“People close to the MPT office are easier to buy but still have to pay between 10,000-20,000 Kyats each. In fact, officials from Naypyitaw has instructed the MPT to distribute a SIM card each to one household. However, only a handful of people who have close connection with the army have better chance. This type of network connection is popularly known as ‘CDMA 800 MHz quota’ among the people. The phone interface does not display like a Thai phone ‘TH GSM’ or Myanmar phone ‘MPT GSM’ but ‘Unknown Network’,” said a local from Mongton.

The quota of CDMA SIM cards for Mongton Township opposite Chiangmai, are 500. However, due to the low demands from local villagers, the quotas are said to be sold to the business men in town, added the young man from Mongton, quoting the sources from MPT office.

In this regard, SHAN has reached out an official from Mongton MPT office. The official from the office said that all the SIM cards were sold out on 24 and 25 April, but he declined to say how many SIM cards were sold out.

It is reported that 350,000 CDMA 800 MHz SIM cards will be sold each month, but it is not compatible with CDMA 450 MHz an existing network, U Htay Win, chief mobile engineer at MPT has told a media agency recently.

The SIM card is however pre-programmed with some limitation such as within 15 days of activation after purchased, one must refill 5,000 Kyat and a minimum of 2,500 Kyat monthly usage. Upon failure to conform to the regulation, the line will be automatically disconnected by the system, MPT has warned.