Communications and Media in Burma {

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Communications and Media in Burma {USG report and PCS}4 June 1999

Communications and Media  in Burma
********************************************
4 June 1999

The following is the latest data on Communications and Media in Burma.The
report is not what you have perused fromt the CIA Fact Book. The report is
based on facts recently  collected by USG agencies and private
communications professionals from the United States and Burma and myself.

Sincerely,

Julien Moe
****************
Communications and Media in Burma

Media:State Controlled Media
New Light Of Myanmar  is an English- language newspaper issued on a daily
basis.Some foreign newspapers are available in Burma. If news on Burma is
included and the news is on politics ,the news piece is cut out and the
paper is available after heavy sensorship. Many weekly and monthly news
magazines in Burmese are circulated in Burma. Yet most of the news articles
printed are pro-SPDC articles and anti-West news items. Foreign journalists
rarely get a visa to get into the country. Journalists admitted into the
country are constantly monitored by the military intelligence units of the
regime.

Telephones:Over 500000 (1998 est.) 

Telephone system: meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service
for business and government; international service is good despite the fact
that the supply is less than the demand of consumers.Cellular serveice is
now available and Iradium , a Bahamas company, has a business contract with
Burma. Majority of the cellular phone users are military officials who have
free cellular phones and service offered free of charge.

Internet Access: Only Government authorities have unlimited access to the
Internet. Businesses have access to the Net too. Business locations that
have access to Internet are constantly monitored by the military
intelligence units to be sure nobody is accidentally on purpose transmitting
information on the regime. Owning a fax machine or a computer with a modem
in Burma is a crime punishable by law.

domestic: NA 
international: satellite earth station?1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) 

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1985 est.) 
note: radiobroadcast coverage is limited to the most populous areas 

Radios: 15,000000

Television broadcast stations:2 (1998 est.)TV Myanmar and Myawaddy TV: One
in Rangoon and one in Myawaddy a Burma-Thai bordertown.


Televisions: 20000000 (1997 est.) 

Compiled and Disseminated by
Julien Moe

Source:USG Reports,CIA fact Book  and PCS