Final Report
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Chapter 3 Development Status and Problem in ICT Sector
To search for tactics and measures to solicit introduction of foreign fund in order to provide
communication services in accordance with international standards;
To cooperate with foreign communication companies excellent internationally;
To cooperate with communication companies having international experience which can
gradually reduce communication fees, provide a mobile telephone service in accordance with
international standards, and provide mobile phones for people in rural areas;
To provide adequate investment opportunities to the communication device manufacturing
business for domestic and international investors;
To improve service quality of domestic and international post mail by utilization of IT,
utilization of new devices, and cooperation with the public sector; and
To improve a communication and post training center in order to bring up highly skilled and
qualified engineers and staff.
These items are brought up as issues in the implementation of specific policies.
(3)
Legal System and Legal Regulation
Regarding a communication law system in Myanmar, PTD controls post, telecommunication,
and broadcast fields. Main mandate office duties are: policy planning, and administration and
supervision of telecommunication services; various licenses and collection of license fees;
standardization of communication devices and communication systems; international negotiation;
and survey and study related to telecommunications. As basic laws related to current
telecommunication necessary to execute these duties, Telegraph Law was enacted in 1885 and
Radio Communication Law was enacted in 1934. At the time of enactment in 1934, the department
then in charge published a public notice document based on the Telegraph Law, which has become
the grounds of the current telecommunication system. Accompanied with the development of
telecommunication technology, Computer Science Development Law (1996) and Electronic
Commerce Law (2004) were enacted. Regarding post, Myanmar Post Office Act (1898) was
enacted. MPT and others are regulated by Government-Owned Company Law (1989) governing
government-owned business entities. In order to study telecommunication reform, caution should
be paid for laws such as four laws (patent right, industrial copy right in registered design,
trademark right, and literacy copyright) related to protection of intellectual property and Foreign
Investment Law. Actual situations of sequence of events of enactment of these laws and their
operation require verification.
The biggest challenge in Myanmar is to enact a Telecommunication Law (Draft) as a basic law
to realize policies of the current telecommunication sector. This new Telecommunication Law has
been approved by the Diet in August 2013. In this event, Myanmar will be able to build a large
foundation to develop telecommunications. Previous law specified the country’s role and
Government power to control the free competition on telecommunication services. On the contrary,
objective of new “Telecommunication Law” is to develop various environments for free
competition of telecommunication services, but not to strengthen the Government power to control
the activities of the telecommunication carriers. Main points of telecommunication reform to be
brought in by this law are determined. (4)
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(4)
Legal & Regulatory Framework (January 22, 2013)Japan-Myanmar ICT Workshop material
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