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Chapter 3
Sector-Level Impacts
In this Chapter:
A. Introduction
B. Current State of the ICT Sector in Myanmar
• Telecommunications
• Internet Infrastructure and Internet Services
C. Sector-Wide Impacts
• Economic Impacts
• Governance Impacts
• Cultural Impacts
• Social Impacts
• Environmental Impacts
A. Introduction
As the number of Internet users, and mobile penetration rates, in Myanmar continue to
increase, various opportunities and potential human rights risks require the attention of
Government, private sector, and civil society organisations. This section of the Report
examines aggregate or “sector-wide” impacts on human rights – both positive and
negative – which can result from the ICT rollout in Myanmar. These include economic,
social and governance impacts on human rights, such as the right to an adequate
standard of living, education and highest attainable standard of physical and mental
health.
This Chapter is intended to highlight the importance to Government of consideration of the
broader implications of its policies and laws (or lack thereof). For companies, it identifies
wider risks the Myanmar operating context poses to responsible business conduct and in
turn the wider impacts that business operations can create for Myanmar society and
therefore the wider context of its “social license to operate” beyond its legal license to
operate. Where gaps exist, there may be a need for collective action, possibly with a
range of stakeholders. For civil society, the Chapter sets out an overall picture of the
sector and useful information on the wider impacts of the sector, both negative and
positive. And finally for donors or other development partners providing support and
assistance, the Chapter is a reminder of the wider context for their support, the
interconnections between many of these issues and a prompt to consider the wider
implications beyond the four corners of their projects.
Table 24 shows the ICT value chain that is emerging in Myanmar. Tables at the end of
this Chapter provide details of some of the main companies operating in each part of the
value chain in Myanmar.
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CHAPTER 3: SECTOR-LEVEL IMPACTS