IT is difficult to find a person who does not support the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s move to delay the introduction of a 5 percent tax on top-up for another year.
Earlier this month the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology said it would end an exemption that allowed telcos to not pay the tax beginning June 1. The surprise announcement was widely criticised by the public, and the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw decided on May 27 to suspend it for a year.
“This is good news for me, because it makes internet cheaper for me,” said U Kyaw Win Ko, a Yangon mobile phone user.
“Thank you Pyidaungsu Hluttaw for confirming no 5pc tax for the year.”
The move to delay the tax comes as the telcos continue cutting prices.
On May 26, Ooredoo introduced its Phalan Phalan internet plan, which dropped tariffs to K6 a megabyte for internet, from its previous K10 a megabyte. Late the same day, Telenor dropped the price of its My Internet plan to K5, from K6.
Pricing per megabyte and packages for cheaper rates is still a relatively new concept. MPT, the incumbent, state-owned operator, previously charged for internet on a per-minute basis, though its Swe Thahar plan introduced this year charges based on volume.
Some mobile phone users say the change of pricing structure has been confusing.
“I don’t understand the way data fees are collected with the new plans,” said Ko Min Min Oo, a mobile user. “So I keep using old-style MPT, as I like to pay my internet charges based on minutes.”
Other users say that while they may be unfamiliar with different internet pricing structures, they recognise the prevailing current is changing.
“Other countries charge for data based on usage,” said U Lin Lin Soe, a mobile phone user.
Source: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/technology/14752-users-react-to-telecom-tariffs.html
