Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) – It is a boon for cell phone users in Burma and single use GSM SIM cards are selling like hot cakes in Yadanabon City ICT Technical Exhibition which commenced today near Pyinoolwin city in Mandalay Division.

The 'Central Marketing Co. Ltd.', the sales agent for Myanmar Telecom Department, has started to sell the single-use GSM SIM cards. Both Burmese nationals and foreigners are buying the SIM cards.

"The ordinary post-paid GSM costs Kyat 1.5 million but the pre-paid cards are available at just FEC 20 (Kyat 24,000) with a month's validity. So many people are buying these new SIM cards," Ko Sai, marketing manager of the company told Mizzima.

Each buyer can buy only one SIM card. The company has to sell 10,000 FEC 10 cards and another 10,000 FEC 20 cards daily.

Despite having a limited validity period and high call charges, many people are opting for these cards which are available at very low price, FEC10-20, a manager from 'Fortune Int'l Co. Ltd.' which is participating in the exhibition, said.

The validity period for FEC 10 and FEC 20 cards are two weeks and one month respectively. Foreign buyers must produce their passports and Burmese nationals must produce their national ID cards while buying these new SIM cards.

The outgoing local call charges will be FEC 0.30 per unit and overseas calls will be FEC 1.5 while incoming call charges, both local and overseas will be FEC 0.05. SMS facility is available in these new SIM cards and it will cost FEC 0.05 for both incoming and outgoing ones.

The Myanmar Telecom Ministry usually controls telecommunication in Burma. Currently the post-paid GSM phone SIM cards being rented by Myanmar Telecom Department costs Kyat 1.5 million and its market price is at least Kyat 1.7 million.