Last November when two of Myanmar’s largest internet service
providers stopped accepting applications for fibre connections, those
seeking efficient internet were left with few options.
State-owned Myanma Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) and Yatanarpon Teleport (YTP) said they had closed sales to focus on “expanding capacity” and increasing broadband speed.
Despite their efforts Myanmar’s internet remains frustratingly slow. The country is ranked 159 out of 198 by Net Index for consumer download speed, averaging five megabits per second (MBps).
Of all the internet service providers, MPT offers the fastest internet – up to 6MBps, according to Net Index, but this is still far behind regional peers. In comparison, nearby Singapore tops the global scale with an average speed of 131.84MBps.
However, this is set to change, according to Thai information technology firm Benchachinda Holding Company (BCH), which has joined with four other companies to create a company called Myanmar Information Highway Limited (MIH),. It will “deliver services on a par with Thailand’s broadband standard,” said BCH president Vichai Bencharongkul in a statement on July 24.
Thailand has an average download speed of 20.94MBps, according to Net Index, more than four times the average in Myanmar.
MIH has already obtained permission to lay fibre-optic cable from Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation, said Mr Bencharongkul. For the first year, MIH will begin installations in Yangon before expanding to other major economic cities, he said, adding that the company has set its sights on becoming the leading premium-broadband provider in Myanmar.
In addition to Benchachinda, the joint venture partners in MIH are ALT Telecom Company, United Distribution Solution Company, A&F Communication Company and a Myanmar business partner, which was not named.
In Myanmar, MIH’s major target customer groups are “enterprises in the manufacturing industry and service industry – particularly three-to five-star hotels, financial institutions, banks, retailers, industrial estates and households,” said Mr Bencharongkul.
In the future, Benchachinda Group plans to interconnect the MIH network with its United Information Highway (UIH) network in Thailand, he said
He added that the company’s move into Myanmar is the first of several planned investments into neighbouring countries.
The news follows shortly after Vietnam’s FPT was granted a 15-year Network Facilities Service (Individual) licence that will allow it to build nationwide network infrastructure and offer fixed telecom and internet services.
More ISPs means greater internet security for Myanmar which is currently at risk of an internet service disruption due to the high level of traffic served by MPT, according to a recent report by the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business.
State-owned Myanma Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) and Yatanarpon Teleport (YTP) said they had closed sales to focus on “expanding capacity” and increasing broadband speed.
Despite their efforts Myanmar’s internet remains frustratingly slow. The country is ranked 159 out of 198 by Net Index for consumer download speed, averaging five megabits per second (MBps).
Of all the internet service providers, MPT offers the fastest internet – up to 6MBps, according to Net Index, but this is still far behind regional peers. In comparison, nearby Singapore tops the global scale with an average speed of 131.84MBps.
However, this is set to change, according to Thai information technology firm Benchachinda Holding Company (BCH), which has joined with four other companies to create a company called Myanmar Information Highway Limited (MIH),. It will “deliver services on a par with Thailand’s broadband standard,” said BCH president Vichai Bencharongkul in a statement on July 24.
Thailand has an average download speed of 20.94MBps, according to Net Index, more than four times the average in Myanmar.
MIH has already obtained permission to lay fibre-optic cable from Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation, said Mr Bencharongkul. For the first year, MIH will begin installations in Yangon before expanding to other major economic cities, he said, adding that the company has set its sights on becoming the leading premium-broadband provider in Myanmar.
In addition to Benchachinda, the joint venture partners in MIH are ALT Telecom Company, United Distribution Solution Company, A&F Communication Company and a Myanmar business partner, which was not named.
In Myanmar, MIH’s major target customer groups are “enterprises in the manufacturing industry and service industry – particularly three-to five-star hotels, financial institutions, banks, retailers, industrial estates and households,” said Mr Bencharongkul.
In the future, Benchachinda Group plans to interconnect the MIH network with its United Information Highway (UIH) network in Thailand, he said
He added that the company’s move into Myanmar is the first of several planned investments into neighbouring countries.
The news follows shortly after Vietnam’s FPT was granted a 15-year Network Facilities Service (Individual) licence that will allow it to build nationwide network infrastructure and offer fixed telecom and internet services.
More ISPs means greater internet security for Myanmar which is currently at risk of an internet service disruption due to the high level of traffic served by MPT, according to a recent report by the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business.
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