THE world of mobile phones has started to open up to Myanmar residents. As the range of models becomes wider, cheaper and more powerful, and with the introduction of prepaid cards, more people are becoming more familiar with the technology and the systems.

Most Myanmar users prefer GSM – Global System for Mobile – phones because the connections are good and the coverage is wide. During 2008, the CDMA and WCDMA systems became available, particularly in coastal areas and around Yangon. The cellular system is also used in Yangon and Mandalay, but less so than it once was.

“Some customers say CDMA is better than GSM in Yangon. The connection is best when the streets are wide and the buildings are low,” said U Ko Ko Aung, manager of the Mr Fone Telecom Centre.

When mobile phones were first introduced in the mid-90s, a phone could cost K4 million. The price has since dropped considerably. “The future of mobile phones is looking very prosperous. Communications are so important, and Myanma Post and Telecommunication is getting more into development. The market will be good,” U Ko Ko Aung said.

Daw Lwin Mar Htun, Manager of AMT Mobile Mate, said: “Yangon mobile phone users like GSM because of the good connection. The big market for CDMA (450 MHZ) is in lower Myanmar and Mandalay. The GSM market is in Yangon. But demand for the cellular system has receded.”

U Myo Myint, a hand-phone user from Yangon, told The Myanmar Times: “I started to use a cellular phone in 2001. I prefer GSM because it’s a card system. It allows you to change handsets and has good connections."