5/22/22, 12:03 AM Myanmar: Freedom on the Net 2021 Country Report | Freedom House The internet became accessible to more people during the coverage period prior to the coup. Mobile data plans are affordable relative to other countries in the region. 16 Deals offering free or near-free mobile access to social media platforms initially fed the rapid growth in Facebook usage and, after 2020, a similar explosion in TikTok usage. 17 Prices for fixed broadband lines have continued to decrease, dropping on average by more than half between 2018 and 2021, though prices vary across different parts of the country. 18 The costs of fixedline connections have decreased due to competition with 4G mobile service and a dearth of demand from customers. While the average fixed-line connection now costs $27 per month in urban areas, this remains prohibitively expensive for the majority of the population. 19 The Digital Economy Development Committee (DEDC) was established in 2017 to support and develop economic policies that promote a digital economy. 20 In March 2019, the DEDC launched its Digital Economy Roadmap, which includes several plans to build digital inclusivity, improve connectivity, and harness technology to foster socioeconomic development. 21 Although the roadmap divides responsibilities among different ministries, it is unclear whether or how much funding has been allocated to implement the strategy. In 2020, there were reports that the DEDC was reemerging after a long period of opaque and infrequent activity, with a new focus on technical skills provision. 22 National figures on internet access hide a digital divide that affects marginalized groups. Urban users who have access to 4G service consume almost five times more data on average each month than the national average for all users. 23 The number of households that have access to a computer or to the internet remains small, particularly in rural areas. 24 Users in rural areas and small towns have poorer internet connections than those in urban areas. Disparities have likely increased following the coup, as services are affected differently by military directives. 25 In recognition of the geographical gaps in people’s internet access, the government announced the development of a Universal Service Fund (USF) in April 2018 to invest in telecommunications services for areas that are otherwise underserved, with the eventual aim of reaching 99 percent of the population. 26 The USF is supported by a 2 percent telecommunications tax that was rolled out in mid-2018. 27 At least some of the USF funding has since been reallocated to pay for a proposed biometric database for mobile subscribers (see C4), and the amount of the remainder is unclear. 28 A tender for implementing the first phase of the USF was announced in November 2020, 29 while the second and third phases have been suspended following the coup. 30 Gender-based disparities in access are generally ignored by the government. Women are still less likely than men to own a mobile phone and significantly less likely to use the internet. 31 For women, barriers to owning and using a mobile phone to access the internet include perceived lack of relevance, high costs, and insufficient literacy skills. 32 A3 0-6 pts Does the government exercise technical or legal control over internet infrastructure for the purposes of restricting connectivity? 0 TOP/ 6 Score Change: The score declined from 1 to 0 due to the military’s repeated shutdown of internet services nationwide, as well as months-long blocking of social media platforms including Facebook, https://freedomhouse.org/country/myanmar/freedom-net/2021 4/28