I've recently heard of the news that pre-paid GSM SIM cards will soon be available for use in Myanmar. The cards will be introduced at the 7th ICT Exhibition Week at Yadanarpon ICT Park. in Pyin Oo Lwin. There would be two types of cards: 10 FEC (2 weeks) and 20 FEC (a month), and the charges will be:
Incoming call: 0.05 FEC/minute
Outgoing call: 0.30 FEC/minute
Oversea call: 1.50 FEC/minute
On the SIM cards, there would be a date (3 months from production date) that you will have to check. For example, if you have bought a card that only has a week until expiration date, then it will expire after a week, even though you've bought a one month pre-paid card.
In Myanmar, the current GSM mobile phone SIM card cost 1500 FEC, and it's not available widely. You have to apply at MPT (Myanmar Post and Telecommunication) for permission to be able to "rent the GSM phone", (as written on the request for permit paper) and not everyone who applies get permits. So you have to rent from someone who does, having to pay like 50 FEC per month, plus the bills. The rate for this GSM is: outgoing local call (25 Ks./minute) and trunk call (35 Ks./minute) so the rate is much lower than the above pre-paid card plan.
When I first heard the news, I was quite happy cos I thought that I can finally afford to own a cellphone. I was even finding the phone models online. I was happy too soon.
The thing is: (according to Myanmar Times article) once you purchase the pre-paid SIM card, ok let's say FEC 20 card, and you have to use it all up within the 1 month time. You cannot transfer the left over minutes, and worst of all, after 1 month time, you have to purchase another SIM card, and you will have another new number. So let's say I use these cards for a year, then it means my phone no. will change 12 times within the whole year! And I'm not cool with this at all. I don't like having to change my phone number everytime I purchase a GSM card. Even though the price is high, I'll still have bought it anyways if I can still use the same number over and over again.
*sigh* When will I ever own a GSM cellphone.... -_- Maybe when things change later in the future, and I don't have to change phone numbers every month, I'll be able to own one.
Until then....
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Disappointing... but I had been looking around for what phone I should buy. I like these: they are not too expensive, so with my below $200/month salary, I can afford it.
All are from Nokia SuperNova series. I like Nokia phones, and they've got good reputation in Myanmar's not-so-good GSM network for being able to get more reception that other models. I'm not sure if these phones will be available in Myanmar though. Maybe when the time to buy comes, my choice will change... hehe
It's not that I don't want
this one though.
But *sigh* I don't think I'm worthy of such thing lolz (or rather, not much of a point in getting that high-tech phone in low-tech country like Myanmar)
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Anyways, Happy December everyone. :) I will be going on two trips within this month: 1st trip to delta area for two days (next week), and then to Mandalay from (28 Dec to 2 Jan). I'll be spending my New Year in Mandalay. :)
Comments (6)
Oh,,
Good Post about myanmar expensive GSM biz.Users here were being killed by big big charges.
hey just dropping by! good site....
You were back since November and I didn't even realize! I must have missed the posts. Wow..these phones are so expensive ..unbelievable.
Happy Holidays to you and have good trips. Mandalay in December sounds awesome. I was there around this time oh..8 years ago!!
@awoolham - happy holidays to you too, sis :)
thank you very much for your post. This is an exciting news. I've been looking at cell phones for my relatives in Burma. I can send them the touch screen GSM phone. Can't believe that i can use a cell phone when I go over there. WOOHOOO touch screen phone here I come.
Hi dawn hajimemashite(this is japanese greetings the first time)
Thank you for your good information.This is big news.
how much can you get cell phone in Burma?