THE number of people and businesses taking advantage of ADSL access in Pyinmana has been growing every day since the government granted rolled out access in February this year.

For many internet cafes it has raised an unexpected problem: They have realised that they must also offer training courses to teach users how to properly access the web.

“We have ADSL access but we also need to run internet courses for our customers,” said U Nay Linn Htike, managing director of Linn computer centre.
Before February, Pyinmana only had access to dial-up internet. Computer technicians in town predicted that the number of users would boom with the introduction of ADSL, which makes using the internet far quicker.

In only a handful of months ADSL has become an indispensable tool for many businesses in Pyinmana, especially media outlets that need to send news and photographs back to their home offices.

To get ADSL access, people or businesses must apply to the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications in Nay Pyi Taw or to a licensed local provider, like the Linn computer centre.

The government has been doing ADSL test-runs since February and they claim the connection is now reliable. Access has now been opened up to the private sector.

U Kyaw Tun Aung, owner of Icon computer centre, said: “Anyone interested in IT should apply for ADSL access because it is much faster than dial-up.
“Also, because it relies on the phone lines, connections cannot be broken easily and any problems can be fixed by either the phone or internet complaints centre.

“Having ADSL internet access has significant financial advantages. Before I had dial-up iPSTAR internet access and had to pay monthly charges of K60,000, even when I didn’t use it. When I did use it, it cost me even more.
“But ADSL only costs K30,000 and the data download is unlimited. So I do not need to worry any more.

“I hope there will be PACs (Public Access Centres) in town soon because it will be good for the town,” he said.

During the test-run period, 11 users were granted ADSL access.

With the rolling out of ADSL access, some computer companies have already announced that they are planning to open PACs as soon as possible.
Ko Kyaw Zay Ya, a regular internet user in Pyinmana, said he is looking forward to having ADSL at home.

“I want to read internet news and download photos at home. Now that there is ADSL in Pyinmana, I plan to get connected at my house soon. But until that time, I will go to places where I can use their connection.

“I want to be able to use the internet and check my email everyday.”