The GSMA, the world’s largest association of mobile operators and related companies, said it will support the Myanmar government’s efforts to adopt better mobile-related laws and practices.
“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,” Tom Phillips, chief regulatory officer, GSMA, said at GSMA’s workshop with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) on “Mobile Communications as an Agent of Inclusion and Change.”
The workshop focused on the ways in which Myanmar’s 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.
“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,” Phillips said.
During the workshop, 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 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 engagement in training the region’s leading policy makers.
This was the third workshop organised by GSMA to assist the work of the MCIT in creating and implementing mobile-related laws and policies, and forms part of GSMA’s aim towards training and development in mobile sector regulation throughout the Asia Pacific region.
