How Myanmar’s Millennials Are Shaping a New Digital Future

As a developing country, Myanmar is embracing the digital age with remarkable enthusiasm. Since the cost of a SIM card dropped from over 1,000 USD to around 1 USD, people across society have leapt at new ways to talk, share and learn, just as the country searches for a new identity after decades of military rule.

1. Connectivity and everyday life

Modern smartphones and cheap data have reached deep into Myanmar’s towns and villages. On buses, in teashops and at markets, people now scroll through Facebook, watch videos and message friends in a way that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.

2. Infrastructure, energy and e‑bikes

Infrastructure and energy remain a challenge, but there are signs of leapfrogging. In Bagan, quiet electric bikes have replaced noisy petrol scooters as a way to explore the 26 square miles of plains dotted with more than 3,000 temples and stupas, letting visitors move silently through the landscape.

E-Bikes in Bagan have supplanted any petrol bikes …and a lot quieter way to enjoy the sights

3. Entrepreneurs, tourism and millennials

Entrepreneurs are appearing everywhere, experimenting with new business ideas that use this upgraded network. As the banking system reforms and tourism grows, digital tools could support jobs that offer alternatives to the legacy drugs trade in some regions. Myanmar’s millennials, with strong family ties and rich cultural traditions, seem likely to move through a faster development curve than previous generations.

Dreams …what lies beyond

For many young people, the smartphone has become a window into the wider world and a way to dream about life beyond their village – and, of course, a way to take a selfie to remember the moment.

Cheap telecoms bring the selfie generation to all of Myanmar

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 19th, 2017 at 4:04 pm. It is filed under Stories and tagged with development, digital, evolution, explore, Myanmar, selfie, travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.