GSMA WORKS WITH MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF MOBILE SECTOR IN MYANMAR
Myanmar: The GSMA today reinforced its commitment to support Myanmar’s burgeoning mobile sector by hosting a workshop with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) on “Mobile Communications as an Agent of Inclusion and Change”. This is the third workshop organised by the GSMA to assist the work of the MCIT in creating and implementing mobile-related laws and policies, and forms part of the GSMA’s wider commitment towards training and development in mobile sector regulation throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Attended by U Myat Hein, Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Myanmar, the workshop focused on the ways in which the mobile industry can stimulate economic growth. In particular, it focused on accelerating digital inclusion, including the widespread rollout of mobile financial products, for urban and rural communities alike, and how to deploy the country’s radio spectrum assets most effectively.
“We are committed to supporting the Myanmar Government’s oversight of the country’s mobile sector and ensuring that investment in new and innovative mobile services is maximised through the adoption of regulatory best practice,” said Tom Phillips, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA. “Myanmar is on the cusp of dramatic digital transformation, both economically and socially. Mobile services will play a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth, boosting job creation and ensuring vital connectivity for the country’s businesses and individuals alike.”
During the workshop, the GSMA pledged to continue its support for the telecoms sector in Myanmar through the provision of three formal capacity building courses in 2015 for government policy makers and regulators. The courses will address mobile regulation for socio-economic development, spectrum management and mobile money for financial inclusion. Myanmar is the first country in Asia to benefit from such a wide-ranging commitment from the GSMA.
This programme follows last month’s signing at Mobile Asia Expo in Shanghai of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Multimedia University of Malaysia to co-develop a Masters course in Converged Telecoms Policy and Regulation and paves the way for the GSMA’s wider engagement in training the region’s leading policy makers.
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Notes to Editors
For more information about the GSMA’s Capacity Building Programme, visit http://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/capacitybuilding
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning more than 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators with 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in industry sectors such as financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utilities. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Expo.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.
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