What to people in Myanmar do with ICTs? Results of field ... · Nationally representative survey,...

What to people in Myanmar do with ICTs? Results of field research

Helani Galpaya

June 2016, Yangon

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Canada and the Department for International Development UK..

1

NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE BASELINE SURVEY ON ICT NEEDS AND USAGE IN MYANMAR

2

Nationally representative survey, Feb-May 2015

• To establish a national baseline– Where Myanmar stands now– Measure impacts of mobile in 1 year (subject to funding)

• Focus on mobile and Internet (where in use)• Data collected in Feb-May 2015 by CAPI from

– 8,138 households • household level questionnaire (from household head)• individual level questionnaire (one individual, randomly selected, aged

15-65)

– 420 ‘clusters’ (urban=wards; rural=village tracts)• Cluster characteristics• Mobile network quality (using software on a mobile phone)• Retail prices of 20 household essentials (rice, gram, coconuts, etc.)• 554 ward/village leaders surveyed

3

Representative of 97% of households and 96.3% of population aged 15 - 65

• At 2.5% margin of error, representative of– 96.3% population aged 15-65 – 97% of total households– 91.8% of total population

• In all accessible areas of Myanmar– 32 townships excluded due to security concerns

• Stratified four stage PPS cluster sampling design used; stratification by:

1) Population size (big cities; other major cities; smaller townships)

2) Geographic region (Delta, Eastern hills, Long coast, etc.)

3) Urban/rural

• For full sampling details, see Methodology Note at: http://lirneasia.net/projects/2012-2014-research-program/responding-to-the-policy-window-in-myanmar-to-help-lay-foundation-for-inclusion/btr/dm/ Survey locations

Source: Survey Solutions4

http://lirneasia.net/projects/2012-2014-research-program/responding-to-the-policy-window-in-myanmar-to-help-lay-foundation-for-inclusion/btr/dm/

SAMPLE PROFILE

Baseline survey findings

5

45%

55%

Sample gender composition (% respondents)

Male Female

Base: All aged 15-65 respondents selected by Kish grid

27%

24%21%

17%

12%

Sample age distribution (% of respondents) 15 - 24 years

25 - 34 years35 - 44 years45 - 54 years55 - 65 years

20%

50%

16%

6%

6%

2%

42%

5%

38%

7%

6%

2%

30%

29%

26%

7%

6%

2%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Skilled/Unskilled workers

Those not seeking employment(incl.housewives,elderly,etc, excludingstudents)

Self-employed/business owner

Office workers & Professionals

Students

Unemployed (those seeking butunable to find jobs)

Occupation (as % of population aged between 15-65)

Male

Female

Myanmar total

6

Motorcycles, three-wheeled cars and bicycles dominate

8

45%

38%

13%

2%

1%

1%

1%

Motorcycle/Three-wheeled car (Petrol/electric, all)

Bicycle/electric bicycle

Cart (Pony cart, bullock cart, etc.)

Car (Sedan/ Wagon/ Van/ Pick-up/ SUV)

Motorboat/ outboard motorboat

Truck/ Lorry/ Other heavy duty vehicle

Four-wheeled trollergy

Access to modes of transportation (% of households)

Base: All households surveyed

64% households have access to some form of electricity

9

Government

electric power supply

52%

Other electric power supply

12%

Both0%

None36%

Access to electricity (% of households)

14%

54%

21%

9%2%

100,000 orbelow

100,001 -300,000

300,001 -500,000

500001 -1,000,000

More than1,000,001

Total monthly household expenditure (MMK) (% of 15-65 population)

Base: All households surveyed

Income in Kyats/month SEC

100,000 or below E

100,001 - 200,000D

200,001 - 300,000

300,001 - 400,000C

400,001 - 500,000

500,001 - 600,000

B

600,001 - 700,000

700,001 - 800,000

800,001 - 900,000

900,001 - 100,0000

over 1,000,000 A

Referred to as “the poor” or the “Base/Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP)” or “those from low-spending households” in this survey

10

About 70% of the households were classified as “poor”

USE OF MOBILE PHONES


11

More than 90% of wards/villages got a mobile signal and re-load locations. But purchase of SIM and handset was limited to urban areas

Wards (urban) Villages (rural) All Myanmar

Do you receive any mobile phone

coverage in your ward/village?

Yes 96% 87% 90%

No 3% 9% 7%

Don't know 1% 4% 3%

Can you top-up your mobile phone credit in this ward/village?

Yes 96% 60% 72%

No 4% 39% 28%

Don't know 0% 1% 1%

Can you purchase a mobile SIM card in this ward/village?

Yes 84% 22% 42%

No 17% 77% 57%

Don't know 0% 1% 1%

Can you purchase a mobile phone handset

in this ward/village?

Yes 82% 13% 35%

No 18% 86% 64%

Don't know 0% 1% 1%

Base: Ward/Village representatives12

9%

1%4%

16%

3%8%

25%

9%

14%

25%

32%

30%

17%

54%42%

Urban (%) Rural (%) Myanmartotal (A)

Number of handsets among household members (% of households)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6 or more

Almost 60% of households had at least 1 mobile phone among members; almost 30% have more than 1

13Base: All households

Q: How many active SIM cards you have in total? (SIM cards that you have used in the last 30 days)

1% 0% 1%

16%

4%

8%

22%

10%

14%

24%

31%

29%

16%

53%41%

Urban (%) Rural (%) Myanmartotal (A)

Number of active SIMs among household members (% of households)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 or more

1%

2%

2%

1%

5%

18%

44%

52%

57%

58%

Tablet computer

Notebook, laptop computer

Internet connection (excluding. via mobile phone)

Desktop computer

Fixed phone

Radio/cassette player

CD/ DVD/ EVD/ Blue Rays Disc Player

Television

Mobile handset

Active mobile SIM

Household access to ICTs (% of households)

Myanmar Total (%)

Mobile phones (and SIMs) are the most accessible form of ICTs

Base: All householdsQ: Do your household own working/ functioning [item]?14

4%

10%

3%

4%

10%

11%

73%

82%

83%

84%

0%

0%

1%

0%

4%

21%

32%

38%

46%

46%

1%

2%

2%

1%

5%

18%

44%

52%

57%

58%

Tablet computer


Internet connection (excluding. via mobile phone)

Desktop computer

Fixed phone

Radio/cassette player


Television

Mobile handset

Active mobile SIM

Household access to ICTs (% of households)

Myanmar Total (%) Rural (%) Urban (%)

….but big urban vs. rural gap in phone, SIM, TV and CD/DVD ownership

Base: All householdsQ: Do your household own working/ functioning [item]?15

…and the gap between rich and poor is also significant in phones, televisions, CD/DVD players…

59%

58%

52%

45%

17%

5%

2%

2%

1%

1%

47%

47%

40%

33%

18%

3%

0%

1%

0%

0%

82%

81%

77%

69%

17%

11%

6%

4%

4%

3%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Active SIM in household

Mobile handsets in household

Television


Radio-Cassette player/Radio

Line phone


Internet connection (excl. via mobile phone)

Tablet computer

Desktop computer

Access to ICT and ICT services in the household (% of Myanmar Household)

Total Myanmar

Exp.Below 300,000

Exp.Above 300,000

Q: Do your household own working/ functioning [item]?

Base: All households

16

MOST RECENT PHONE USE:WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU USED A PHONE?


17

69% of 15-65 year olds in MM had used a phone before (teleusers); urban teleusers had more recent use than rural

18%5% 9%

33%

14%

20%

20%

15%

16%

7%

12%

10%

2%

9%

7%

0%

0%

0%

5%

9%

7%

15%

37%31%

Urban Rural Myanmar total

When was the last time you used a phone? (% of 15-65 year olds)

Never

Can't Remember

In the last year

In the last month

In the last week

Yesterday

Earlier today

In the last hour

Base: All respondents18

Twice as many at the BOP had never used a phone, compared to the rest (MOP/TOP)

5%17%

9%

16%

31%

21%

15%

19%

17%10%

10%

10%8%

3%

6%8%

6%

7%

38%

15%

30%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Exp.Below 300,000 Exp.Above 300,000 Total Myanmar


Q: When did you last use a phone to make or receive a call? It could be through your own phone, a neighbor's phone, a friend's phone, communication kiosk/shop or any other. It also need not be paid for?

Base: All respondents

“Bottom of the Pyramid” or “POOR”

“Middle + Top of the Pyramid” or

“MIDDLE CLASS & RICH

19

One year after reforms in MM 46% of the “BOP” had used in last week; 44% in last month. Compared to Asian neighbors 8 – 10 years after reforms….

South Asia South East Asia

Pakistan India Sri Lanka Philippines Thailand

Used phone in last 3 months

98% 94% 92% 93% 95%

Bangladesh Pakistan India Sri Lanka Philippines Thailand

Used phone in

last week82% 66% 65% 77% 38% 72%

% of BOP who had used a phone in the last week (surveyed in 2008)

% of BOP who had used a phone in the last 3 months (surveyed in 2006)

Source: LIRNEasia 2006 and 2008. Teleuse @ the Bottom of the Pyramid Studies. Surveys nationally representative of the BOP in eah listed country. BOP = those at the bottom of the pyramid, defined as those belonging to SEC D and E.

20

Small gender variation in using a phone for calling/SMS: males more frequent teleusers

10% 7%

23%18%

16%

16%

10%

11%

6%

7%

0%

0%

6%8%

28% 33%

Male Female


Never

Can't Remember

In the last year

In the last month

In the last week

Yesterday

Earlier today

In the last hour

Base: Respondents who had ever used a phone before

Q: When did you last use a phone to take or receive a call? It could be through your own phone, a neighbors' phone, a friend's phone, communication kiosk/shop or any other. It also need not be paid for?

21

Location mattered more than gender: Rural women & men both had less frequent use than urban women & men

22Base: All respondentsSource: LIRNEasia Baseline Survey (2015)

20%

6%

37%

18%

19%

16%

6%

10%

2%

7%

1%

0%

4%

7%

12%

35%

Urban Rural

Male

Never

Can't Remember

During the lastyear

During the lastmonth

During the lastone week

yesterday

Earlier today

In the last hour

16%

3%

32%

12%

20%

15%

7%

12%

3%

9%

0%

0%

5%

9%

17%

39%

Urban Rural

Female

Never

Can't Remember

During the lastyear

During the lastmonth

During the lastone week

yesterday

Earlier today

In the last hour


7%18%

11%

18%

35%

24%

16%

18%

17%9%

8%

9%7%

3%

6%7%

5%

6%

35%

13%27%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Exp.Below300,000

Exp.Above300,000

TotalMyanmar

Males - When was the last time you used a phone? (% of 15-65 year olds)

Income also mattered more than gender: access among poor women similar to poor men

4%15%

7%14%

27%

19%14%

21%

16%11%

11%

11%8%

4%

7%9%

6%

8%

40%

16%32%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Exp.Below300,000

Exp.Above300,000

TotalMyanmar

Females - When was the last time you used a phone? (% of 15-65 year olds)

Q: When did you last use a phone to take or receive a call? It could be through your own phone, a neighbor's phone, a friend's phone, communication kiosk/shop or any other. It also need not be paid for?


23

80% of teleusers said the last time they used a phone, it was a mobile (not necessarily their own)


10%27% 20% 18% 22%

90%73% 80% 82% 78%

Urban Rural Myanmar total Male Female

Area Gender

What type of phone did you use last? (% of 15-65 year olds who have used a phone before)

Fixed (landline) Mobile (GSM or CDMA)

24

Most either used their own phone or another one in the house. 78% of rural teleusers can get to a phone in the house

70%

31%46%

19%

31%

27%

5%

16%12%

3%

12%9%

1%3% 2%

1% 6% 5%

Urban Rural Myanmar total

Whose phone did you use last? (% of 15-65 year olds who have used a phone before)

Other

My work place / Officephone/employerA neighbor (can include friend orrelative)A friend's or relative (who is not aneighbor)Roadside booths, private pay phonebooths)Another household member

The household (common phone)

Me (personal phone)


Q: What type of phone did you make or receive your last phone call from? 25

Calls mostly for social purposes, some livelihood-related communication. No difference between urban/rural or rich/poor

Base: Respondents who had ever used a phone beforeBase: Respondents who had ever used a phone before

74% 74% 74%

19% 17% 17%

3% 2% 2%3% 4% 4%2% 4% 3%

Urban Rural Myanmartotal

Purpose of the last call made or received (% of 15-65 year olds who have used a phone before)

Other (please specify)Emergency communicationCoordination of some other activity (excluding livelihood)Livelihood-relatedSocial purposes / keeping in touch

73% 76% 74%

17% 18% 17%2%

2% 2%5% 2% 4%3% 3% 3%

Exp.Below300,000

Exp.Above300,000

TotalMyanmar

Q: Can you tell us the purpose of your call? 26

But ownership changes use: Owners more likely to have made a livelihood related call; non-owning users slightly higher emergency use

27Base: Respondents who had ever used a phone before

76% 72%

13% 21%

5% 3%

Non-subscriber Mobile subscriber

Purpose of the last call made or received (% of 15-65 year olds who have used a phone before)

Other (please specify)

Emergency communication

Coordination of some otheractivity (excluding livelihood)Livelihood-related

Social purposes / keeping intouch

Q: Can you tell us the purpose of your call?

MOBILE OWNERSHIP (NOT JUST USE)


28

38% Myanmar 15-65 population were mobile owners


• City-wise SIM penetration:• Yangon-83%; Mandalay-55%; Nay Pyi Taw-55%

Q:Which describes your status of mobile phone ownership?

65%

27%

39%

66%

26%

39%

Urban Rural Total Myanmar

Mobile SIM and handset ownership (% of 15-65 years)

Owns an active SIM cardOwns a mobile handset

29

Higher spending households had higher mobile phone ownership



35%

42%39%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Lower Spendinghousehold

Higher SpendingHousehold

Overall Myanmar

Mobile ownership by Household Spending(% of population)

30

35% phone penetration in poor households in Myanmar 6 months after liberalization, compared to some Asian neighbors in 2006….

23%

9%

22%

60%

76%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Pakistan India Sri Lanka Philippines Thailand

% of the BOP who owned a phone, 2006

Base: % of rents31

….and compared to 2008

43% 41% 45%

73%63%

91%


Total phone ownership (% of BOP teleusers)

owners

32


Mobile ownership was highest among 15-44 year olds

41%43% 42%

37%

30%

39%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

15-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years OverallMyanmar

Mobile subscribers (% of 15-65 population)

33


83%

55% 55%

31%

38%

Yangon Mandalay Nay Pyi Taw Rest of Myanmar Myanmar total

Mobile subscribers (% of 15-65 year olds)

Adoption was driven by big cities

34


Gender gap in ownership of a phone much higher than in use of a phone

47%

33%

39%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Males Females Overall Myanmar

Mobile ownership by Household Spending(% of (16-65) population)

Q:Which describes your status of mobile phone ownership? 35

Gender gap in mobile ownership exists in high as well as low-spending households



36%

67%

47%

24%

51%

33%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Lower Spendinghousehold

Higher SpendingHousehold

Overall Myanmar

Mobile subscribers By Gender & Household Spending(% of 15-65 population) Males

Females

36

The poorer the household, higher the gender gap in mobile phone ownership

37

BOP/Below MMK300,000: 34%

INCREASING HOUSEHOLD INCOME

13% of mobile owners have more than one active SIM; higher in urban areas

Urban RuralMyanmar

total

More than 1 SIM 17% 8% 13%

Base: Mobile phone subscribersQ:How many active SIM cards you have in total? (SIM cards that you have used in the last 30 days)

38

Smartphones dominate: 63% all subscribers have one

Base: Mobile phone subscribers

63%

34%

3%

Handset Type ( as % of Mobile Subscribers)

Own Smartphone

Own Feature Phone

Own Both

39

93%

90%

81%

78%

74%

60%

46%

73%

68%

66%

65%

82%

73%

69%

61%

59%

38%

32%

56%

48%

46%

47%

88%

82%

75%

70%

67%

50%

40%

65%

59%

57%

57%

SMS (text message)

Camera (for photos/video)

Radio

File transfer capability (bluetooth/USB)

Color Screen

Tourch

Dual SIM capability

Touch screen

Wi-fi

Applications

Internet browser

Mobile handset features (% of mobile handset owners)

Myanmar total (%) Rural (%) Urban (%)

Base: Those who own a mobile handset

Internet experience-related

…with internet-ready features

Q:What are the features your phone has? 40

84%

73%

57%

51%

44%

67%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

15-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years Overall Myanmar

Smart Phone Penetrations (% of Mobile Owners)

Base: All Mobile Owners

Smartphone penetration is skewed toward younger age groups

41

Smartphones dominate: more often in the hands of urban, high-spending (“richer”) households

25%

44%34%

75%

57%67%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Urban Rural TotalMyanmar

Type of Handset (% of Mobile Subscribers)By Urban / Rural

Q:What are the features your phone has ? Dual SIM capacity ?

Base: Mobile phone subscribers

43%

25%34%

57%

75%66%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Exp.Below300,000

Exp.Above300,000

TotalMyanmar

Type of Handset (% of Mobile Subscribers)By Expenditure

Owning SmartPhone

Not OwningSmartphone

43

Mean price paid for handset was MMK 94,500 (approx. USD87); 11% of owners got it free/as a gift

Base: Mobile phone subscribers44

Monthly spend on top-ups MMK 8890 (USD8) on average

Base: Mobile phone owners45

76%

59%

54%

53%

42%

24%

15%

12%

10%

10%

7%

6%

4%

4%

2%

3%

3%

2%

1%

84%

72%

60%

59%

61%

43%

33%

27%

26%

24%

20%

15%

16%

13%

10%

9%

7%

5%

3%

80%

66%

57%

56%

52%

33%

24%

20%

18%

17%

13%

11%

10%

9%

6%

6%

5%

3%

2%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

For missed calls

For text messaging (SMS)

Receiving phone calls (via your network provider)

Taking phone calls (via your network provider)

To listen to music

To play games

For calling applications (e.g. calls using Viber, Skype,…

For using chat/instant messaging applications (e.g.,…

For sharing content (pictures/video/music, etc)

To use Facebook application (not through browser)

To download/use any other mobile application (‘app’)

To receive updates, such as breaking news updates,…

To watch online video content (streaming)

For using the Internet/web through a browser

For email

For mobile money (sending/receiving talk time)

To access other social-networking or blog…

To use Wikipedia application (not through browser)

To access mobile money or banking services

What are you using your phone for? (% of mobile subscribers)

Exp.Below 300,000

Exp.Above 300,000

Total Myanmar

Base: All who own a mobile phone

Mobile mostly for voice calls, SMS, missed calls and listening to music

46

COMPUTER AND INTERNET USE


47

80%

66%

57%

56%

52%

33%

24%

20%

18%

17%

13%

11%

10%

9%

6%

6%

5%

3%

2%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

For missed calls




To listen to music

To play games









For email






Total Myanmar


But Myanmar IS “online” and using the “Internet”

48

76%

59%

54%

53%

42%

24%

15%

12%

10%

10%

7%

6%

4%

4%

2%

3%

3%

2%

1%

84%

72%

60%

59%

61%

43%

33%

27%

26%

24%

20%

15%

16%

13%

10%

9%

7%

5%

3%

80%

66%

57%

56%

52%

33%

24%

20%

18%

17%

13%

11%

10%

9%

6%

6%

5%

3%

2%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

For missed calls




To listen to music

To play games









For email






Exp.Below 300,000

Exp.Above 300,000

Total Myanmar


Even the poor (those at the BOP) ….

49

Mobile apps for VOIP, text messaging (WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook messenger, Line), Facebook popular

50

24%

20%

17%

16%

13%

10%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

For calling applications (e.g. Viber, Skype, etc.)

For chat using intstant messaging (e.g., Whatsapp, WeChat, FacebookMessenger, Line, etc)

To use the Facebook application (not through a browser)

For email


To watch video conetnt



Myanmar Total

6 months after sector reforms, Myanmar way ahead compared to Asian neighbours over a decade after their reforms

51

% of BOP mobile owners, 2011

B’desh Pakistan India S’Lanka Java ThailandMake phone calls 100 99 100 99 96 100

Receive phone calls 100 95 99 100 94 99

Send/receive missed calls 86 71 78 65 54 24

Send/receive SMS 19 38 23 55 89 37

Send/receive MMS 1 2 3 5 14 8

Send/receive e-mail 1 3 2

Browse the Internet 3 1 1 10 5

Take photos/video 19 7 8 14 26 19

Play games 27 21 18 11 31 16

Listen to radio 13 15 12 17 26 18

Listen to music 25 5 15 8 26 30

Share that you have content created 1 1 3 2 8 3

Send/receive, download/upload other content 1 1 2 2 6 3

Use as an organizer 7 5 8 2 15 8

Check my bill/credit 13 20 11 18 16 3

Send/receive talk time/load 10 5 2 2 35 0

Access facebook 1 1 7 2

Access other social networking or blog 2 1

6%

% Myanmar’s BOP, 2015

7-16%

7-16%

10%

But computer use very low

% 15-65 year olds

Yes 2%

Can't remember when, but I have used one before 1%

No 90%Don't know what a computer is 7%

Have you used a computer from any location in the last 12 months? This can include a desktop, laptop or tablet (tab) computer

Base : All respondents52

Internet use (via a browser, in the ‘traditional’ way) is also very low. Even then, mobiles drive use and Facebook dominates

Base : All respondents

% 15-65 year olds

Yes 2%

Can't remember when, but I have used one before 0%

No 92%

I haven't heard of internet 6%

Have you used the Internet through a browser (e.g., UC Browser, Opera, , Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Dolphin, Internet Explorer etc.) on a tab, computer or mobile phone in the last 12 months

Small base (approx. 200), but all of these users are mobile subscribers; almost 75% of this use is via a mobile Internet browser; more than half use it at least once a day; most

frequent use is for Facebook (75%).

53

COMMUNICATION HABITS AND INFORMATION NEEDS


54

Most have some need to communicate with those outside their town/village. Subscribers more frequent communicators


2% 6% 3%6%

23%

13%13%

23%

17%11%

13%

12%

37%

24%

32%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Non-subscriber Mobile subscriber Myanmar total

Frequency of communication with people outside of own town/village (% of 15-65 year olds)

Don’t know

Never

Less than once a month

Monthly

Weekly

Daily

Many times in a day

55

Most communication outside the town/village by in-person visits or phone calls; in person visits more common among non-subscribers


54%

22%

42%

55%

92%

69%

12%

3%

8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Non-subscriber

Mobile subscriber

Myanmar total

How respondent generally communicates with others outside their town/village (% of those that communicate with people outside town/village)

In-person visits

Phone calls

SMS

Chat/messaging (excluding calls)

Internet calls

Email

Internet

Social media applications

Post

Telegram

Fax


56

Communication in an emergency: mobiles substitute for physical travel


29%

6%

20%

3%

1%

2%

38% 87% 57%

14%

5%

10%10%

0%

6%6%

1% 4%

Non-subscriber Mobile subscriber Myanmar total

How respondent would communicate an urgent message to someone outside of town/village (% of 15-65 year olds)

Wait until you met them next to tellthem

Ask someone else to call them

Call them via landline

Call them via mobile phone

Send a message through someone else

Go there and tell them in person

57

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

Community news, about things happening in your ward/village

National news, about important things happening in Myanmar

Weather information

Information on where to get every day household goods and…

Information on job opportunities

Local news, about important things happening in state/region

International news, about important things happening in…

Health tips and information

Information on how to do or make things

Price information related to your line of work

New skills and ways of doing things that you can learn to…

Information on where to find healthcare (doctors, hospitals,…

Other entertainment information (e.g., TV, movie updates, etc)

Current news and updates about or related to your sector

Information used in your or your children’s education

Information on education opportunities for yourself or your…

Other market information (supplier/customer information,…

Sports information

Beauty tips

Information on sources of finance (formal and informal…

Crime information

Information on government programs, laws and policies.

Information on government services and documents

Astrology information

Typical day-to-day Information Needs (As % of 15-65 Population)

Most Important 2nd Most 3rd Most

Information needs: Thirst for news (national & community), where to obtain daily goods/services, weather, jobs


Friends, family and neighborhood are main information sources

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Friends/family

Neighbor

Mass media (Radio, TV, Newspapers, Journals/magazines) or theInternet

Work/business contacts/colleagues


Quarter/ward/village administrator

Teachers/school

Hospitals/clinics

Shop keepers/service providers

Information Sources

Urban

Rural

Total Mayanmar

Q: Who do you usually obtain that kind of information? Base : All respondents

Compared to non-subscribers, mobile subscribers are ‘hungrier’ for information –want more, faster than currently available

52%39% 37%

54% 43%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Urban Rural Non-subscriber

Mobilesubscriber

Myanmartotal

Do you think that you require more information than you currently have access to? (% of 15-65 year olds)

Don’t know

No

Yes

52%44% 42%

54%47%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Urban Rural Non-subscriber

Mobilesubscriber

Myanmartotal

Do you think that you receive information on this kind of information quickly enough? (% of 15-65 year olds)

Don’t know

No

Yes

Base: All respondents60

Among ward/village leaders, phones are the second most popular way of disseminating information

61

60%

29%

25%

19%

16%

14%

10%

1%

3%

Megaphone/Public Address System

Phone calls

Individual hand delivered messages

Public Meetings

Public notice boards

Face-to-face meetings/appointments

By way of community groups (eg -…

Post

Other

How Ward/Village leaders disseminate information through the community (% of ward/village leaders

surveyed)

Base: Ward/Village representatives

Phone ownership among Ward/Village

leaders (%)

LandlineOfficial 8.3

Personal 11.4

MobileOfficial 9.6

Personal 89.2

62

Urban % Rural % Total %

Yes, have sufficient information and resources (e.g., forms) to assist them on the first visit 82% 74% 76%

No, we do not have sufficient information and resources (e.g., forms) to assist them on the first visit 16% 26% 22%

Don't know 2% 1% 1%

Base : Ward/Village representatives

Hints at opportunities for efficiencies: information from superiors/peers still based on physical visits

Mode of Communication %

Go to (visit) higher relevant government office/department 28.9

Go to (visit) another ward/village tract administrator (same level) 22.0

Contact via mobile phone higher relevant government office/department 20.6

Contact via mobile phone another ward/village tract administrator (same level) 13.4

Contact via phone higher relevant government office/department 7.6

Other 7.6

MOBILE PHONE OWNERSHIP PRECONDITION FOR INTERNET USE


63

Owning a phone is a pre-condition for Internet use

• Data shows several disadvantaged groups for phone ownership

– The poor (compared to the rich)

– Women (when compared to men)

– Poor women (even when compared to poor men)

• Examine women vs. men further

64

GENDER, MOBILE PHONES & INTERNET


65

Qualitative data collection: Focus groups and home visits (in-depth interviews with 91 women and men; of varying age, occupation, socioeconomic categories; mobile owners, non-owner users, non-users

66

Female Male Total

Urban (Yangon)Rural

(Pantanaw)Urban (Yangon)

Rural (Pantanaw)

Protocols Participants

Focus group discussions

4 4 1 2 11 66

Home visits 10 10 3 2 25 25

91

Why don’t more women own mobiles? They cannot afford it; they don’t ‘need’ it.

67

42%

2%25%

Myanmar non-owners (%)

I cannot afford ahandset

I cannot afford aSIM card

42%

2%25%

Male non-owners(%)

I cannot afford ahandset

I cannot afford aSIM card

38%

2%34%

Female non-owners (%)

Base: Non-ownersSource: LIRNEasia Baseline Survey (2015)

Main reason for not owning a mobile phone % of non-owners∫

38%

2%34%

I cannot afford a handsetI cannot afford a SIM cardI have no use for it / don’t need oneI don’t know how to use a mobile/too complicatedNo mobile coverage where I liveMy phone is brokenNo electricity where I live to charge mobile phoneMy phone got stolenOther

What a lack of affordability means

• Most household incomes are low overall (chart, right)

• 50% of women are not employed according to baseline survey

68

14%

54%

21%

9%

2%

100,000 orbelow

100,001 -300,000

300,001 -500,000

500001 -1,000,000

More than1,000,001

Total monthly household expenditure (MMK)

(% of 15-65 population)

Base: Myanmar households in accessible areasSource: LIRNEasia Baseline Survey (2015)

What a lack of affordability means (continued)

• Women who ARE employed still earn significantly less than men

69Base: Myanmar households in accessible areasSource: LIRNEasia Baseline Survey (2015)

“I sometimes weave mats and

earn 300-400 Kyat a day.”Female non-owner, 46, SECD-E, Pantanaw

‘Affordability’ is measured against the cost of a smartphone / ‘touchphone’

• Some can afford (or have the option) of a keypad phone, but would rather hold out for the opportunity to get a smartphone/ ‘touch phone’

– Prestige factor

– To access data services (Facebook, Viber, etc.)

– For games

70

“At times [my husband] gives me money to buy a mobile phone. But I have to use

it for school fees for my children. And what I want to get is a smart phone, which I

can’t afford to buy yet…[The lowest price for a handset is] more than 60,000-

70,000 kyats. But those are not good enough, only handsets that cost more

than 1 lakh kyats are good enough to be used...[i.e.,] more durable than the

[cheaper] ones.”-Housewife, 28, Yangon

Female owners as likely to own a ‘touch phone’ as male

'Touch phone'

64%

'Keypad' phone36%

Male mobile owners (%)

71Base: Day wage earnersSource: LIRNEasia Baseline Survey (2015)

'Touch phone'

63%

'Keypad' phone37%

Female mobile owners (%)

“A touch phone is high class, and you can

play games with it. Keypads are outdated”-Female FGD respondent, 18-28, SEC C/D, Pantanaw

Women are usually family/household financial managers or ‘CFOs’ (Chief Financial Officers)

• Family income is (usually) handed over to the primary female in the house who budgets for the month and ensures money is available for necessities

• They play key role in household decisions, incl. mobile phone adoption– Limited product knowledge limits their participation in purchase decision

72

“Others hold a

touchphone so I

wanted one, too. My

wife agreed and

came along when I

bought it.” Male owner, Yangon

“My wife complains

if I top up too

much.”Male owner, 30-45, SEC B/C, Yangon

‘He gives me the salary when he is

paid, all of it. But when he needs

some he requests from me. When he

goes to work he needs to have meal

but there was no one he knows so I

have to make sure that he has

money.’Female non-owner, 36, SEC D, Yangon

Different from other Asian countries (2008): women had much less decision-making power over mobile phone purchases, esp. South Asia

73

99

18

100

35

99

50

94

39

94

11

77

10

1

8065

1

50

6

61

5

89

23

90

2 1

Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female


Gender of the decision maker regarding mobile phone purchase (% of BOP mobile owners), 2008

Decision maker male Decision maker female Don't know

Base: BOP mobile ownersSource: LIRNEasia Teleuse@BOP3 survey (2008)

Q: Who was the main decision maker in purchasing [your] mobile phone?

But as CFO, they are responsible for whole family. And put others’ needs before their own.

74

‘Women also have to take care of the

family. Instead of spending their money

on phone charges, they have to use it for

food.’- Female non-owner, 36, SEC D, Yangon

“At times [my husband] gives me money

to buy a mobile phone. But I have to use it

for school fees for my children. And what I

want to get is a smart phone, which I can’t

afford to buy yet.”-Female non-owner, Housewife, 28, Yangon

“I plan to buy a mobile but we

don’t have enough income. My

wife says that I shouldn’t buy one.

She is about to give birth so we

need to save the money.” Male non-owner, 18-29, SEC D/E Pantanaw

They feel the need to to conserve the limited family budget (even at the expense of their needs)

Where the household does get a mobile, women tend to get lowest priority…

• Women’s role as the home-maker (rather than the bread-winner) has a strong impact on their becoming mobile owners

• Whoever goes outside of the house gets priority

75

‘Males work and have business so they carry the phone. But if the wife has a

business she also has one. Today even youngsters and children have a mobile.’- -Female mobile owner, 19, SEC C, Yangon

‘Males are the head of the household.

You have to favor and respect them. He

has to lead the family. Whatever we do,

we have to discuss with him.’- Female mobile owner, 18-28, SEC C/D,

Pantanaw

‘If we could buy another phone, it would be

for my husband. The next one will be my

brother’s. This is because they are working.

Only after that will I get my own phone’-Female, non-owner, 47, Pantanaw

Many women don’t have the skills to use data services fully

• Many women needed help to even place a call

• Women are unable to participate in handset/SIM purchase, so what is purchased may not meet their needs

• Women miss out on the ‘introduction’ to the mobile at the point of purchase– Rely on others (males) for knowledge

• Fear of ‘breaking’ the phone prevents greater use by women

• Those who knew English faced less difficulties

76

“We don’t fiddle with it a lot because we are

concerned that we would damage it. We don’t

want to waste money. I can’t afford a new one.” FGD Yangon, female owners, 18–29, working, SEC B/C

“Males know better how to operate and to

repair phones … there are hardly females

working in phone shops.”HV Yangon, female owner, 19, SEC C

NEXT STEPS TO UNDERSTANDING MYANMAR USERS…

77

Ongoing/planned research

• Right now, teams in the field conducting follow-up survey– What has changed since last year?

– What has been the impact of mobile phone rollout?

• July/August: qualitative research to understand how users respond to subsidized/free data packages/bundles– E.g. Free Basics

• See you in October/November, with some answers

78

What to people in Myanmar do with ICTs? Results of field ... · Nationally representative survey,...

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