Text of report in English by Khin Hninn Phyu, carried by Burmese newspaper The Myanmar Times website on 20 March

The Department of Post and Telecommunication, under the Ministry of Communication, Post and Telegraphs, this month started a programme encouraging businesses which offer public internet access to step inside the legal fold and run their businesses systematically under Myanmar Info-Tech guidelines.

The programme would allow the growing field email service providers and network gaming centres to operate legally by providing them with a public access centre (PAC) licence.

State-owned enterprise Myanmar Info-Tech would serve as a facilitator to help them register for the licence, the company’s managing director U Thaung Tin said. The programme was designed to get businesses running in accord with the ministry’s Wide Area Network Notification, issued in 2002, he added.

Independently operating a business that offered internet access was a breach of the notification and could result in the business being shut down at any time and the operators facing charges, U Thaung Tin said.

“So we’re providing them with the opportunity to operate legally by registering as PACs.”

Although doing so incurs additional charges such as monthly fees and adherence to certain rules and regulations - such as regular reports to Myanmar Info-Tech of internet users’ identities and websites visited - registering was a safe way of doing business, he said.

So far the department has issued 79 PAC licences but it would increase this number in support of the programme.

So far 16 of the authorized PACs have opened, including locations in Mawlamyine [Moulmein] in Mon State, Pyinmana in Mandalay Division, Monywa and Shwebo in Sagaing Division, Taungoo and Magwe in Magway [Magwe] Division, Pyay [Prome] in Bago [Pegu] Division, Myeik [Mergui] and Kawthaung in Tanintharyi [Tenasserim] Division, as well as in Yangon [Rangoon] and Mandalay cities.

Applications for a PAC registration can be made to Myanmar Info-Tech.