Asia - Myanmar Prepaid SIM

Report (http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/08/myanmar-prepaid-gsm-sim-card-now-available/)that prepaid GSM SIMs are now available in Myanmar.

Report (http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/08/myanmar-prepaid-gsm-sim-card-now-available/)that prepaid GSM SIMs are now available in Myanmar.

Here is a more in-depth article (http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14766). The big caveat is that the new cards will only be available at the upmarket hotels in country run by Tay Za, a close ally of General Than Shwe.

What are the requirements for a local to buy a SIM? I asked when I was there, but got the usual smile with a non-answer.

Like anything else there, money! Current cost is about $2500 for the phone itself. A friend of our guide/driver had one. And even with, the actual cell service wasn't always reliable -- even in cities.

As the article indicates, the cost will be dropped, but the per minute charges will balloon.

yikes... I had no idea the cost for the phone was so high. I dont remember seeing anyone with phones for my entire 2 weeks there. Then again, I stayed at small guesthouses not major hotels and did not travel on a package tour to try to put as little money as possible to the government.

I would assume that anyone with a cell phone then would somehow be connected to the government goons.

I would assume that anyone with a cell phone then would somehow be connected to the government goons.

not necessarily true. The gentleman whom I met who had one was a pretty well-to-do businessman in a major city, with several shops to call his own. No doubt being successful in business requires some (ahem) government interaction, like anywhere in the world...but, also like anywhere else, there are those who have the disposable income and/or business needs that would allow or warrant their spending the money on something that may seem "outlandish" -- kind of how I see luxury car owners here in the west. ;)

And I'm pretty sure he's not in cohoots with the generals based on private conversations we had.

Interesting tidbit: the cost of a mobile phone was actually cut ~50% around a year ago -- so $2500 ain't that bad!

Interesting tidbit: the cost of a mobile phone was actually cut ~50% around a year ago -- so $2500 ain't that bad!

Erm, US$2500??? :confused:

Erm, US$2500??? :confused:

Yes, US$2500. The country of Myanmar is ruled by a paranoid junta that doesn't want its people to know about life in the outside world. God forbid the people should easily be able to communicate with friends, family, and others in the outside world (or that during such crises as the so-called saffron revolution that happened last year, they should be able to get news out to the world of what is going on).

By keeping the cost of things like cell phones way out of reach of the average person, the government keeps its fist tightly clenched around the knowledge of its people.

There are some interesting articles on this blog about prepaid phone cards in Myanmar. They are cheap and easily available to general public but also has their own shortcomings. Call rate is expensive and no way of refill, so after a month, the phone card expires. To buy one, you need to show your ID card or your passport. The price is US$ 10 and US$20 per card and each customer can buy up to 3 SIM cards (two US$ 10 cards and one US$ 20 card).

Here are the articles:

Prepaid SIM cards available in City Mart Supermarket (http://www.myanmar2day.com/myanmar-news/2009/01/prepaid-mobile-phone-sim-cards-available-in-city-mart-supermarkets-in-yangon/)

New GSM prepaid SIM cards from Myanmar (http://www.myanmar2day.com/myanmar-information/2009/01/new-prepaid-gsm-phone-cards-from-myanmar/)

Hope these articles would help you in finding a SIM card to use while you are in Burma.

Call rates for these are (in US$):
Outgoing International 1.5
Outgoing local 0.30
Incoming call 0.05
Outgoing SMS 0.05 (couldn't get this to work).
Card has a validity of 30 days once activated, no top-ups possible - just buy a new one.

It seems City Mart is usually out of stock, I bought one in a phone shop on Anawrahta Road, near Sule (US$20+2000kyat) - no need for ID/Passport.

It's not the most reliable network but functions mostly ok.