Files/MBT
The state-run telecom services provider Myanma Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) has dropped its Swe Thahar package internet and SMS charges in the face of stiff competition from the foreign telecom operators.
As of October 1, Swe Thahar internet charges were slashed from K7.5 per megabyte (MB) to K6, and MPT offered some internet packages with promotional bonus data allowance.
The cost of SMS was also reduced to K10 per message from K15, which makes MPT the cheapest SMS service provider among the three operators.
Voice call rate will stay the same at K23 per minute.
Existing customers who are on the “Base Tariff” plan will have to manually subscribe to Swe Thahar by sending SMS “SWE” or “POSTSWE” to 1332. New customers will be automatically subscribed to the plan.
“MPT continues to work to offer the best services for our customers. We listen carefully to their feedback and requests for changes. The use of data is growing as more Myanmar people use their phones to send emails, photos, and browse websites. Our new data packages and SMS pricing will provide our customers with more communications access at an affordable cost,” said Takashi Nagashima, CEO of MPT-KSGM Joint Operations.
However, telecoms executives and experts have earlier expressed concerns at the drastic lowering of prices by all the telecom operators, saying the current prices are close to unsustainably low levels where the operators will have difficulties in investing their revenues back into operation to improve service and network quality.
“The most important thing is service. Eventually, customers will choose the best service despite this price war. All telecom operators are reducing prices, if one reduces price the other takes the price down more. This will not be sustainable in the future,” U Ye Myat Thu, chairman of Computer Professionals Associations of Mandalay region, told Myanmar Business Today.