Final Report Chapter 11 Conclusions and Recommendations 2. Extending outside plant engineer centers (OPEC) to the regions 3. Strengthening the training center (3) Recommendations concerning technical cooperation projects for human resource development and training center enhancement 1) Background Under the aggressive sector development policy implemented since the start of the Thein Sein Administration, the Myanmar government plans to increase its phone penetration rate from under 10% as of the end of 2012 to 80% (a total of about 48 million subscribers) by 2015-16, by promoting aggressive capital investment and approving the entry into the mobile phone market of 2 new companies. Meanwhile, it is known that many carriers are shifting their network technology from conventional circuit switching to IP format as the global demand for Internet use grows rapidly. MPT also is introducing the IP packet communication format in their newly developed communications networks. 2) Difficulties and issues Although MPT has its own training centers for the development of human resources, these are traditional training facilities that offer training on conventional circuit switching networks. In addition, the centers have only a limited number of personnel and offer limited opportunities for instructors to acquire new technology. At the frontline of MPT, even recently network development projects have been carried out by foreign engineers, and there are only a few engineers who understand new technology and communications methods. Therefore, it is expected that MPT will not be able to cope, in terms of either quantity or quality, with the new technology and methods to be introduced from now. If the target of 48 million subscribers is to be achieved, a total of about 35,000 employees, or three times the current level, will be required at MPT. In addition, there are fears that communications engineers will leave MPT as new companies are allowed to enter into the mobile communications market. In this regard, it is essential that human resources development projects be implemented in order to be able to cope with the introduction of new technology and communications methods using Japanese ODA, with a focus on the development of engineers for Myanmar’s communications sector as a whole. 3) Summary of project-type technical cooperation projects This project requires the following conditions, the aim being to supply good-quality engineers capable of satisfying the demand in Myanmar’s telecommunications sector as well as to provide these engineers with follow-up training. (i) Development and enhancement of practical training facilities where application software for the latest technology is incorporated (IP routing, mobile communications, 11-7