However, only 50 handsets have been issued - usually to the military junta according to an unnamed official from the Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) Department. Previous reports had suggested that a 3G network was being built covering Yangon but was expected to have a capacity for 30,000 subscribers.
About 200,000 mobile phones will be distributed across the country once the infrastructure is in place, the official told the Mizzima news agency.
The 3G phones are selling for 2.8 million Kyat (US$ 2150), while a GSM costs about 2.3 million Kyat (US$ 1800). A CDMA costs about 2.1 million Kyat (US$ 1615). The prices put the phones out of reach of ordinary citizens and limits them to the government or favoured business contacts.
Government and military contacts tend to find it easier to get the paperwork to own a mobile phone - but often then rent out those phones to business users.
The state owned operator doubled its network capacity during the year - although it was not clear who provided the equipment. The original GSM network was provided by Siemens and ZTE.
The number of mobile phones in Burma reached 265,912 at the end of 2007. – Cellular News
Resource - Burmait.net
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