Regional government authorities will be invited for telecommunications companies to provide internet service in Mandalay’s gems market

Tenders will be invited for telecommunications companies to provide internet service to the gems traders at the Mahar Aung Myay Gems Dealers’ Market in Mandalay, said Mandalay City Development Committee member U Kyaw Zaw Aung.

The plan comes after a Chinese man was fined earlier this month for providing internet service unofficially at the market.

“We’ll invite companies in a tender system so the process is clear. We may allow two or three companies to provide the service. Currently, we haven’t cut the unofficial connection in the market. After holding the tender, we’ll set a time frame and then we’ll cut it off. Now, they’re providing the service unofficially without paying fees to relevant departments,” said U Kyaw Zaw Aung.

Early this month, Liu Shang Rong, 48, of Shanxi, China, was fined K500,000 under Mandalay City Development Law for providing Wi-Fi service in the gem market by using a Myanmar Broadband Telecom Co Ltd line. Liu is said to possibly face more action under immigration and communications laws, U Kyaw Zaw Aung said.

“The activity was only discovered when we found out that communications cables were being laid when the market was closed. Liu is believed to have set up 26 routers to provide Wi-Fi in the market for between K25,000 and K280,000 a month. He set up networks like a cyber city and had been operating for more than a year without obtaining permission from the city council and market administrator,” said U Kyaw Zaw Aung.

Thousands of people trade daily in the gem market, which has more than 1100 shops. – Translated

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/tender-be-called-provide-internet-service-mandalays-gems-market.html )

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