A PLAN to replace analog telephone stations with digital networks in cities throughout Myanmar got underway last month, local ICT companies involved in the upgrades said.

Digital phone services are targeted for 50 townships by the end of the year, according to representatives of Global Technology Co., Ltd and Myanmar World Distribution Co., Ltd, which together with Myanmar Millennium Group Co., Ltd are involved in upgrading the networks.

The three private-sector companies are service providers for the state-run Myanma Post and Telecommunications, which is overseeing the digital upgrades.

Digital phone networks provide smoother and more reliable connections and are so far available in 10 cities, including Yangon and Mandalay.

People living in areas with digital telephone exchange stations have the ability to access high-speed ADSL internet services, where such connections are available.

The digital upgrades are to be handled by MPT technicians while the private companies will make them ADSL-ready.

U Nyein Chan Htay, sales and marketing manager for Global Technology Co., said his company was to be involved in upgrading 14 exchange stations: six in Yangon Division, four in Shan State, two in Ayeyarwady Division, and one each in Rakhine State and Magwe Division.

He said Myanmar Millennium Group Co. was assigned to 13 exchange stations: four in Yangon Division, two each in Mandalay, Sagaing and Bago divisions, and one each in Shan, Kayin and Mon states.

Myanmar World Distribution Co. is involved in the upgrading of 13 stations: six in Mandalay Division, four in Yangon Division and one each in Bago Division, Kachin State and Chin State, U Nyein Chan Htay said.

Each digital exchange station can handle over 1000 phone lines.

The project marks the first time MPT has involved private-sector companies in the upgrading of telephone exchange stations.

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) services were until recently only available in Yangon, Mandalay and Pyinmana, including Nay Pyi Taw, but is now also available in Monywa, Magwe, Taunggyi, Nyaung Oo, Keng Tung, Loikaw and Myitkyina.

U Nyein Chan Htay said the service, called ADSL 2+, allows for faster internet connections that do not tie up the phone line.

“It costs K2.35 million to install. Monthly charges are K30,000 for Class A and K60,000 for Class B, which comes with four email accounts and is available only to people opening Public Access Centres (internet cafés),” U Nyein Chan Htay said.

On July 30, telecommunications minister Brigadier General Thein Zaw said Myanmar had about one million digital phones, half of them mobiles.