Digital divide in Myanmar

Digital Divide in Myanmar

A digital divide is the gap between those who have the ability to access computers versus those who don't. The digital divide in Myanmar deals with the gap between economic classes and their access to technological advances. It goes farther than just the technological need, it’s divided by gender and economic well-being. Those who are exponentially wealthier have access to current technologies given them the advantage over the remainder of the population who lacks funds. With the rich and powerful having access while the poor can not afford the luxury, and men having more opportunities to get involved in the tele-infrastructure business. The tele-infrastructure in Myanmar is relatively weak compared to those in surrounding countries. The internet supply doesn't meet the increasing demand; hence the digital divide.

Economic Digital Divide

Myanmar is a small country with very small income level. If you were a traveler in Myanmar and planned to stay then you would probably fall in the top most tax bracket at 23,500 us dollars. With a very low income level its very difficult to afford luxuries like the internet. Most internet access is on cellphones, because of the low simcard cost. Rich people in Myanmar usually run information and communication technologies (ICT). The people who live above the poverty line have all kinds of modern day access unlike the average or poor who struggle in the everyday necessities. In 2016 the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) averaged $1,275.02 US dollars, While the United states averaged $57,466.79 dollars. this is a huge economic difference which we can relate to the population percentage difference of mobile phone usage between the two countries. In 2009, it was recorded that .94 percent of Myanmar's population had cell phone subscription, while the United states had 97.2 percent of its population. Myanmar cannot afford to have cellphones like in America to to low trade and economic power.

Myanmar Internet Demographics

The amount of internet users in Myanmar has increased significantly in the last few years. In 2014, there were 2 million internet users in Myanmar. That number, however, increased to 39 million users by 2016. The cause of this drastic increase in internet users was caused mainly by the massive increase in SIM card sales recorded through May 2016. This combined with a more aggressive network roll-out by mobile providers to other regions, a decline in SIM card prices, the lowered prices of voice and data plans, and the lowered cost of mobile phones all led to this major increase in mobile sales and subscriptions over that two year period. Because this market is beginning to reach its maturity stage, significant slowdown is predicted to occur by 2022.

Gender Digital Divide

Nearly 30% of women are less likely to have access to a mobile device in Myanmar. The cell phone is the main source of internet access in the country. Because of this deficit in internet access between the genders there is a Gender Digital Divide in Myanmar. There is also a significant wage gap between men and woman in addition to limited leadership positions available to be filled. Due to this woman are not as equally represented and often listed as a dependent. This gap contributes to the lack of resources, furthering the lack of digital activity for women. Currently Myanmar is working to close the gap by using more ICT’s in daily life in order to educate women.  However, due to the economic difference between to genders, woman are less likely to have access to ICT’s. "IREX’s Tech Age Girls (TAG) program is addressing this gap in opportunity, providing more than 100 young women in Myanmar with the technology and leadership skills they need to achieve their goals and become agents of change."