Myanmar likely to cut back local calling rate

Myanmar likely to cut back local calling rate

Published on Sunday, 30 June 2013 01:27

Residents picking the lottery for SIM cards worth 1,500 kyats (Photo - EMG)

Myanmar will cut back local calling rate per minute within this fiscal year, according to Thaung Tin, the deputy minister for Communications and Information Technology Ministry.

He told the Parliament yesterday that the current rate (50 Kyats per minute) will be reduced in this year by Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT). 

He was responding to a question asked by MP Kyi Myint (for Latha Township Constituency)  at the parliament whether there is any private company making a proposal to reduce the rate from 50 Kyats to 5 Kyats per minute or not, and whether the MPT has a plan to take the lead in the cutting or not.

"The ministry is also working to modernize other taxes as well as the calling rate in this fiscal year in an effort to catch up with other neighboring countries," he added.

As there will be four telecom operators in the country by July 2014, the ministry will make necessary policies to direct the operators to be able to provide their worthy services to the public, he said.

"[We] will allow the companies to compete freely in the market, even if the calling rate will not be reduced to 5 Kyats per minute in the near future. I think 5 Kyats per minute will be possible when the companies become very competitive enough to reduce the rate," he concluded. 

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/06/30/myanmar-likely-to-cut-back-local-calling-rate/