Myanmar is among the countries that are working to use 5G technology worldwide. 5G technology is a more sophisticated technology than 4G. Better functionality; It will provide faster speed and responsiveness. In addition, users can enjoy new functions through 5G technology. They will be able to use new services and access fiber network communication speeds through their mobile handsets. However, due to the lack of handsets to use 5G technology locally, insufficient spectrum and other technical requirements, 5G technology will only be able to be used locally for at least two to three years, according to U Soe Thein, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
He said that the requirements for using 5G technology are being prepared and that 5G technology will be brought to the country in the next few years. The Ministry of Communications announced earlier this year that 5G technology will be replaced by 4G/4.5G 5G technology for domestic use. Also, Myanmar National Broadband White Paper 2019 and Spectrum Roadmap 2019, network deployment; infrastructure; The requirements for the 5G ecosystem, including broadband support policies for many sectors, are being prepared.
Starting from 2G and 3G in Myanmar, the technology gradually advanced and in 2018, 4G technology was used. MPT, a local telecommunications operator, launched 4G service in 2017. Introduced in May. When Telenor first entered the country, it provided 2G and 3G services in 2017. 4G network service was provided in June. When Ooredoo launched both 3G and 4G services, Mitel offered 2G and 4G services. Currently, all domestic operators are fully using 4G technology. “We are willing to welcome the 5G era by verifying the main problems faced in upgrading the network and cooperating with partners in the field,” said Vice President of Huawei Network Energy Product Line Mr. Fang Liangzhou.
The Huawei company conducted research on 5G technology in 2009, and the countries that will use 5G technology. He expressed his willingness to cooperate with any organization. In addition, it was revealed in a technical research release that it can supply more than 40,000 5G base stations. “In order to use 5G technology domestically, operators other than Spectrum must be able to provide services at a reasonable rate. The government needs to make plans for the necessary routes and speeds when distributing. The government must plan in advance for the necessary 5G base stations. It is difficult to get such base stations in Myanmar,” said Mr. Zhan Liman, CEO of Huawei Myanmar.
U Tint Naing Tun, Head of Cooperate Communication of Ooredoo Myanmar, said that because the government cannot provide domestic 5G technology service independently, it is necessary to provide spectrum at a fair price that operators can invest in. The government’s support sector is important for 5G technology service. “We will need to make upgrades that will meet the needs of the technology. We will also need related equipment, services and handsets that can support 5G in the market,” he said. At present, local operators are providing 4G (Fourth Generation) network services, and they are still facing difficulties in spreading the technology to provide 5G technology services.
U Zaw Min Oo, chief executive officer of Mitel’s external relations, said, “If we are going to do 5G, the main thing to talk about is the handset part. If everything is ready, then we can go. We had to prepare a lot during 4G. Even now, 4G is not used 100% locally. I think it will take longer for 5G,” he said. As a step forward for 5G technology domestically, Ooredoo, a local operator, partnered with Nokira to open a 5G communication technology center at Yangon University of Technology in the last week of February. In 5G technology, high-speed Internet that can reach up to 10 megabytes per second; fixed wireless access; Artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), Internet of things (IOT), smart cities and other technologies will be able to work and have a positive impact on the economic activities of the society, according to technology experts.