Toward a Networked Economy in Myanmar

The project developed an "all-fronts approach" in this endeavour. It focused on addressing in a single project the 4 elements in the internet ecosystem: infrastructure enabling affordable connectivity services, skilled users, low-cost and user-friendly devices, and attractive content and applications. The project consists of 3 kinds of activities: research, policy advocacy, and capacity building.

Much of the core evidence required for policy intervention is to stem from quantitative and qualitative research carried out by the participating organisations. One of the key research objectives was to gain a good understanding of how individuals in Myanmar, particularly ones at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) use ICTs, and how that use is evolving as the market develops. Summary of major research conducted to date:

• In February-May 2015, LIRNEasia conducted a nationwide baseline survey in Myanmar on the information, knowledge and communications technology needs and uses of the population (living in accessible areas) in order to evaluate the impact of mobile phones in the country. Click here for details about the survey and access to the report in English and Myanmar, as well as a slide set outlining findings as presented to (i) policymakers in Nay Pyi Taw and (ii) industry media and other stakeholders in Yangon in July 2015.
• LIRNEasia's nationally representative baseline survey of ICT needs and usage in Myanmar showed a gender gap in mobile ownership of 29% by March 2015. Together with Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Association's Connected Women programme, LIRNEasia explored the reasons behind this gender gap through a series of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions held in Yangon (urban) and Pantanaw (rural) among 91 men and women in July 2015. Further questions on mobile internet awareness and use, as well as barriers to use were explored, yielding a set of findings and policy recommendations. (See Related Summaries below for access to a summary of the findings, as well as the full report.) The report was launched at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in February 2016.

In addition to media coverage (e.g., in print and web media), examples of events/policy forums/meetings where the researchers have been able to communicate their research to policymakers and/or practitioners include:

• A panel discussion titled "Connecting the next billion: Myanmar and emerging countries" was organised and moderated by LIRNEasia at the Stockholm Internet Forum in October 2015. A subset of the findings of the baseline survey were presented at the forum. LIRNEasia and MIDO's all fronts approach, which takes into consideration all the elements of the internet ecosystem, was used as a framework for the discussion. Click here to learn more.
• Project researchers took part in the Internet Governance Forum, Joao Passoa, Brazil, November 2015. LIRNEasia's work in Myanmar was referenced to provide context for much of the discussions, drawing heavily from the nationally representative survey as well as well as research on micro entrepreneurs in Myanmar.
• Face-to-face meetings on catalysing the rate at which the disabled community gains access to ICTs took place February 3-4 2016. The roles that each party (e.g., the Kyee Myin Dian School for the Blind and Telenor Myanmar, etc.) could play in making information resources available and accessible to individuals with disabilities was discussed at length, and follow-up conversations to discuss these action points were initiated. To read more on this topic, click here. A hackathon was planned that would bring together members of the disabled community and app developers to create apps for the disabled.
• Examples of dissemination events include those held in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw to share these findings with policymakers, private sector, civil society organisations, and the media. Among the audience at the Nay Pyi Taw dissemination event was the Union Deputy Minister of Communication and Information Technology. Smaller one-on-one meetings also took place with key stakeholders. Outside of Myanmar, the survey results were presented to many other stakeholders, including those involved in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) design (at a UN-DESA expert group meeting where LIRNEasia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was invited as speaker), academics, and civil society (at ICT4D Conference in Singapore, and at the UN-IGF in Brazil).

Examples of the role of project research in helping reform policies and/or programmes:

• A draft version of the Guidelines on Provision of International Gateway Services was published by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in October 2015. LIRNEasia and MIDO submitted a written response with suggestions for improvements to the guidelines while commending the efforts of the MCIT to liberalise the telecommunications services market. Recommendations included allowing the creation of multiple gateways based on multiple media, removal of differential domestic and international termination pricing, and giving necessary consideration to data communication.
• The MCIT published a consultation paper titled "Spectrum Roadmap: Meet the need over the next 5 years" on February 1 2016. LIRNEasia responded to the consultation paper by submitting a response that placed emphasis on principles important to ensure the efficient use of the spectrum asset. They addressed the questions of: (i) neutrality of band and technology; (ii) opportunity to refarm and repurpose already acquired bands; (iii) embedding all auctions and assignments within a pre-announced and credibly implemented road map for making spectrum resources available to operators; (iv) use of carefully designed and well timed auctions as allocation method; (v) formulating a licensing regime that clearly set out conditions for entry to and exit from the market; and (vi) use of new methods such as harnessing big data to formulate plans against harmful interference.
• The Research Director, MIDO, under the guidance of the Chair of LIRNEasia provided recommendations on the design of the regulatory agency, the Myanmar Telecommunications Commission as provided for by the Telecom Law. Further recommendations included the establishment of a policy unit within the Ministry.

The third action area in this project is capacity building, firstly focused on MIDO so they are able to become a financially independent, evidence-based research and advocacy organisation, and second on policymakers, regulators, and civil society in Myanmar who can influence ICT policy. Example: On June 21 2016, MIDO and LIRNEasia offered a 1-day programme in Yangnon that addressed issues of telecom and internet policy and regulation, along with e-government and social media, to around 20 legislators from the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. Click here to access all the PowerPoint slides from this capacity-building event.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Gender

Myanmar is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 150 out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index. It also has one of the lowest mobile phone and internet penetration rates. In 2013, approximately 13% of Burma's 53 million people had access to mobile phones, and 1% had access to the internet. Since 2010, Burma's transition to democracy has opened up new opportunities to use digital technologies to support social development and economic growth. Previously, only a privileged few could afford SIM cards and handsets. Now they lay within the means of millions of people that have since bought into services provided by mobile operators Telenor, Ooredoo, and state-owned incumbent Myanma Posts and Telecommunications.

After decades of state restrictions on outside communication, Myanmar may be poised to make a leap from being one of the least connected societies in the world to a connected and inclusive information society. For Myanmar to transition to an inclusive information society, it must deal with multiple challenges. First, gaps in telecommunications infrastructure and electricity provision have led to a rural-urban connectivity divide. Most people who have access to the internet or mobile phones are concentrated in larger urban centres. Second, years of low educational development have resulted in skills gaps that may limit people's ability to take full advantage of the internet and digital devices. Finally, Burma's digital industries are new, so locally created applications do not have the same variety, quality, or usability as its more connected geographic neighbours.

Despite the impression that everyone in Myanmar has a mobile phone, from high-powered executives to trishaw drivers, many families only have one - and more men carry them on their person than women. Forty percent of Myanmar people aged 15 to 65 have an active SIM card, the project research has shown. Broken down by gender, about one-third of women in that group had independent mobile access, compared to nearly one-half of men.