The Cost of Openness

Myanmar used to have one of the highest costs for SIM cards in the world. However, after the 2011 election and subsequent efforts to open up Burma to the international community, prices for SIM cards have drastically dropped.

Quartz just published its findings on the decline of SIM cards prices, which have become vastly more affordable to average citizens in recent years:

(The above chart is based on interviews with mobile users, mobile phone stores, and telecom experts in Myanmar. Further reports, by year: 2009; 2010; 2010; 2011; 2011; 2011; 2011; 2012; 2012; 2013)

While more telecommunications firms move into the country with the aim to expand tech access to all citizens, there is still more work to be done to give Burmese Internet and mobile phone users unencumbered access. Ensuring that continued work with foreign mobile operators is free of suspected corruption, use of tools to monitor and suppress online activities is discontinued, and laws free of provisions that restrict free expression are just some of the methods that can help improve the telecommunications environment in Myanmar.