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Myanmar, Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki, FANDOM powered by Wikia

Myanmar

Basics Edit

There are three mobile providers operating in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma):

Past and Present Edit

Until just a few years ago, this country was closed to the world by the military junta. The state-owned operator MPT gave out mobile access only to the military and private subscribers who paid more than $1,000 USD bribe for a SIM card. All mobile communication equipment brought by visitors was confiscated at the border until recently as well.

The country has now opened up and these laws are no longer enforced, rocketing Myanmar from stone-age to cyber-age. Internet reliability issues still remind users that they’re in one of the last frontiers, but improving in 2016-2017.

The previous situation was so desperate that the fresh civil government issued two fresh licences in two thousand thirteen to foreign companies to build GSM networks in the country, which meant the state-owned incumbent provider MPT got competition and lowered the prices to a fraction of the past. In two thousand fourteen Kuwait/Qatar-based Ooredoo and Norwegian Telenor launched their networks. Both newcomers had only coverage in Yangon (aka Rangoon), the fresh capital NayPyiTaw, Mandalay and a few areas in inbetween for a begin, but are rapidly growing from there.

Myanmar’s internet user base has enhanced from two million in two thousand fourteen to more than thirty nine million in mid-2016. The number of SIM cards in circulation has also enlargened by almost 400% in this period. This figure now represents a mobile invasion of 90% of the country’s population.

Networks, Coverage, Speed Edit

Only go to Myanmar if you can live with erratic and sometimes badly slow internet access. This is true to WiFi as well as to all three mobile operators, especially in rural areas. Both of the newcomers sold millions of SIM cards each in only a few months. SIM cards were in such high request in two thousand fourteen that black-market prices skyrocketed, tho’ now being sold on every street corner with competitive prices.

MPT has again lowered prices but has still unreliable and slow internet access. It gives the best coverage via the country on 2G nine hundred MHz and 3G two thousand one hundred MHz and at the same time on an incompatible CDMA network. Ooredoo only built up a 3G network mostly on nine hundred MHz with no fall back to 2G. Telenor is said to be the most reliable for data where it has coverage on 2G nine hundred MHz and especially on 3G two thousand one hundred MHz. A fourth license to Vietnam-backed Vietel Group was given out recently, but they haven’t commenced yet.

4G/LTE has embarked by all providers in parts of Mandalay, Yangon and the capital Naypyidaw in two thousand sixteen using existing two thousand one hundred MHz bands. The regulator is going to auction more spectrum on one thousand eight hundred and two thousand six hundred MHz in 2016/7 to be used for 4G/LTE.

In two thousand seventeen a 4th licence has been awarded to Myanmar National Tele & Communications (MNTC). This is a joint venture inbetween Vietnamese-army-backed Viettel and eleven local firms. It will operate under the Mytel brand. They promise to bring 2G, 3G and 4G to rural areas at agressive prices beginning most likely in 2018.

Regulations Edit

SIM cards are sold everywhere. Only in the official shops of the providers you need to display your passport and visa (stamp), on the street nobody asks for it.

Mobile phone users will have to register their SIM cards kicking off in April two thousand seventeen according to the country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications. To register, a customer will be required to provide his name, address, date of birth, nationality and gender, with either their national registration card (NRC), driving licence, passport or student card as proof of identity. The Ministry also said that, commencing thirty one March 2017, all unregistered SIM cards in Myanmar will be blocked.

As the data stream is unreliable, it can be hard to place VoIP calls, even on WiFi. International IDD calls are charged high at around €/$ one per min which is a numerous of the prices in neighbouring Thailand.

All providers need to register SIM cards until March 2017. This is done without verification so far by app or online. All rates are subject to an extra 5% commercial tax embarking April 1, 2016. In the prices of Ooredoo and Telenor it’s included, with MPT it’s not.

MPT Edit

The state possessed provider MPT (for Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications) has ruined its reputation in the past when it charged exorbitantly high fees for mobile access, voice and data. They had a monopoly under the military regime when they used to give out access only to the elite, privileged foreigners and the military power circle. They have lowered prices significantly. Back in 2013, they charged US$ two hundred for a SIM card with data, only two years later US$1.50. This alienated a lot of people who began to shun MPT, even it’s still the only choice in many areas of Myanmar.

Still, it has the best coverage on the countryside. At the beginning of two thousand sixteen it reached 90% of population by its 3G network. The company made a remarkable turnaround and got awarded by Ooklas speed test as Myanmar’s fastest mobile network of two thousand sixteen beginning to deploy LTE and regained a market share of 52% in 2017.

4G/LTE Edit

MPT has officially launched it’s 4G/LTE service on thirty May two thousand seventeen in Yagon, NayPyiTaw and Mandalay on one thousand eight hundred MHz. It’s available for prepaid users at these locations with 4G compatible devices and SIM cards. MPT users with older non-compatible SIM cards may interchange them for fresh 4G-ready ones, while retaining their current numbers, at any MPT branded stores in Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw for no extra charge.

Availability Edit

Their SIM card is sold at many places where you see their logo even if they are not so visible like Ooredoo or Telenor. There is a big outlet in the arrivals hall of Yangon International airport. Since January 2015, they charge 1,500 kyats for the starter pack with three hundred kyats credit. Another three hundred kyats credit are paid after thirty and ninety days. Since two thousand sixteen they also sell nano SIMs in some locations.

To activate your SIM card, you need to put it into your phone, turn on your phone and make a call, or top-up your balance using one of their top-up cards. You will receive an SMS confirming your SIM card activation and informing you about your phone number.

Top-up cards are available in following denominations: 1,000 Ks, Three,000 Ks, Five,000 Ks, Ten,000 Ks, 20,000 Ks, 30,000 Ks. In two thousand sixteen MPT revised its balance validity scheme: customers who top up their mobile accounts will now have their balance validity automatically enlargened to one year. The fresh scheme is designed to enable MPT customers who make petite top-ups keep their SIM card active for a longer period of time compared to the previous scheme. Additionally, customers relying on balance transfer from their friends and family to recharge their account will also see their balance validity enhanced to ninety days every time they receive a transfer.

Data feature packages Edit

For a good data rate, you very first have to switch to their fresh “Swe Thahar” tariff by texting “SWE” to 1332. You will get fifty MB for this free subscription. Default data is six kyats per MB. They suggest these data packages:

• daily package valid until midnight of the day of subscription:

• 150 MB: three hundred ninety nine Ks, activation: *2001#

monthly packages for thirty days:

1.Five GB: Two,850 Ks, activation: *2002#

Three GB: Five,250 Ks, activation: *2003#

6 GB: 9,500 Ks, activation: *2004#

15 GB: Eighteen,000 Ks, activation: *2005#

night packages valid 11pm-7am:

250 MB for one night: three hundred Ks, activation: *237*1#

1 GB for seven nights: one thousand Ks, activation: *237*Two#

Four GB for thirty nights: Trio,200 Ks., activation: *237*Three#

To all rates 5% taxes must be added. Packages expire after one month or when used up. You can book fresh packs anytime. Check data balance by texting “BAL” to 1332. Check balance: *124#.

Tourist SIM Edit

For tourists visiting Myanmar they sell a special SIM only at the MPT Shop in Yangon International Airport in both terminals. You pay Ten,000 Ks. for the starter and get one GB data and Five,000 Ks. credit valid for ten days. Data over the package is billed at their default rate of six Ks. per MB. Compared to their regular SIM cards, this is not a good deal.

More info Edit

• APN: mptnet

• Website in English: http://www.mpt.com.mm/en

Ooredoo Edit

Ooredoo was very first in the race to revolutionize the mobile phone system of Myanmar. It embarked its network in August two thousand fourteen in Yangon, Naypyitaw and Mandalay. Even they were very first, they have fallen behind Telenor to the 3rd position, but are available in other areas like the Mon state: 3G and 4G coverage map

Ooredoo only began up a 3G network on nine hundred MHz mostly. So you need to have a device working on this frequency in 3G. There is no 2G fallback. This different treatment gave them an edge ahead in time. But simply skipping 2G and embarking on 3G may prove to be not such a fine idea. This is a country where the majority subsists on US$ one hundred per month and uses mobile phones for voice mostly.

In two thousand sixteen it embarked 4G/LTE as very first provider in the country using one thousand eight hundred and two thousand one hundred MHz in parts of Yangon, Mandalay and the capital NayPyiTaw: 4G coverage list. In two thousand seventeen LTE covers almost five million people across Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw and Bagan and Magwe.

Availability Edit

You can’t miss their shops and sales outlets. Where you see their logo, you will most likely have coverage. Their prepaid starter pack is sold at every street corner, together with their two competitors. Like them, they are sold for 1,500 kyats. Ooredoo gives a ten MB bonus.

So you need to top-up right away. Top up values from five hundred kyats to 50,000 kyats are available.

Data feature packages Edit

Data is activated on 3G/4G by default on Ooredoo and charged at six kyats (9pm-6am) and nine kyats (6am-9pm) per MB. They suggest these packages:

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