Key Point 5: More coverage here: Liberal Media Meeting in Taipei Blogging in...

More coverage here: Liberal Media Meeting in Taipei Blogging in Taiwan, continued

Digital Blockade in Burma

We’re on our second day of the seminar/workshop and some of the representatives of the 11 countries that attended this event were given the opportunity to present their current situation. We had Soe Aung of Burma and Mamood Ahmed Khan of Pakistan taking the floor and explaining the issues concerning their respective countries.

One of the shocking facts I learned from Burma’s represetative was the prohibitive cost of connectivity and communication.

USD$500 – the cost to setup a dial-up account.
USD$3,000 – the ost to have broadband/DSL setup in your home
USD$5,000 – the cost of having your own personal mobile phone

Likewise, you need to apply for a license just to own a fax machine or a modem. If you are caught with one without a license, you could go to jail for 7 to 10 years! Yes, the government practically controls these channels of communication which is why gatherings such as these are important to the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.

Makes you really appreciate the slow and erratic Smart Bro for $20 a month right?

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Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

10 Comments

J. Angelo Racoma says:

19 years ago

🥉 Bronze🏆1

Hmm. Lots of laptops! I don’t see anyone using a Mac, though! :P
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The Ca t says:

19 years ago

🥉 Bronze🏆1

yes, abe when we get to other countries and places, that’s the time we appreciate Philippines.

So whenever, i read commentaries or whines about the philippines, I can’t help but think that the person has not yet left the country.

Or if ever they did, it must have been for leisure only and they saw what the country woud like the tourists to see.
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Eugene says:

19 years ago

💎 Platinum🏆1

Just curious, do you prefer calling the country Burma or Myanmar?
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Abe Olandres says:

19 years ago

🥉 Rookie🏆3

Burma is the term for peace-loving people. Myanmar is the term for those who support the military junta.
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spark says:

19 years ago

🥉 Rookie🏆1

Unfortunately, Myanmar is still under a repressive authoritarian regime. Control of information is an absolute must to control the people. Its really sad what the Burmese have had to deal with in the past 3 or 4 decades.
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