Mobile phones, Internet, information and knowledge Myanmar 2016 Ayesha Zainudeen, Helani Galpaya, Gayani Hurulle & Perampalam Suthaharan August 2017 LIRNEasia is a pro-poor, pro-market think tank whose mission is catalyzing policy change through research to improve people’s lives in the emerging Asia Pacific by facilitating their use of hard and soft infrastructures through the use of knowledge, information and tech- nology. Contact: 12 Balcombe Place, Colombo 00800, Sri Lanka. +94 11 267 1160. [email protected] www.lirneasia.net The survey was carried out with financial support from the UK Government’s Department for International Development and the International Development Research Centre, Canada. The views expressed in this work are the views of the creators and do not necessarily represent those of the UK Government’s Depart- ment for International Development, the International Development Research Centre, Canada, or its Board of Governors. Acknowledgements The authors wish to acknowledge all The survey conducted in 2016 was fol- those who provided invaluable input and low up to one carried out in 2015. Mention engaged with LIRNEasia on the design, must be made of those who helped with implementation, and analysis of the the design of the initial questionnaire. Our survey. thanks go out to Joshua Blumenstock, Per Helmerson, Saad Gulzar, Jorge Garcia Third Eye Co. conducted the fieldwork Hombrados, Srignesh Lokanathan and on this survey. The input of Htun Htun Nilusha Kapugama. The advice given by Oo and San Naing in particular are much Rohan Samarajiva, who also spent time appreciated. reviewing the early part of data analysis, is appreciated. MIDO’s constant support throughout the research, in participating in fieldwork Special mention must also be made of and conducting quality checks, must be Piyumi Gamage for assisting in writing acknowledged. Phyu Phyu Thi, Htaike the report. Htaike Aung, Yatanar Htun, Hnin Nu Nu Niang and Myo Min Aung in must be given special mention. Table of Contents Executive summary ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................ 17 1. Socio-Economic Status ....................................................................................................................... 20 1.1. Labor and earnings ............................................................................................................................. 20 1.2. Household income and expenditure ................................................................................................ 24 1.3Type of housing .................................................................................................................................... 24 1.4 Electricity ............................................................................................................................................... 28 1.5 Transportation ...................................................................................................................................... 31 2. ICT ownership and use ......................................................................................................................... 32 2.1 Household ICT ownership ................................................................................................................... 32 2.2 Individual use of ICTs 2.2.1 Most recent use of a phone .................................................................. 34 2.2.2 Type of phone last used .................................................................................................................... 34 2.2.3 Purpose of last phone call ................................................................................................................ 39 2.2.4 Ownership of the phone last used ................................................................................................... 43 3.Mobile ownership and expenditure ................................................................................................. 47 3.1 Mobile ownership demographics ....................................................................................................... 54 3.2 Smartphone ownership ....................................................................................................................... 57 3.3 Operator market shares ....................................................................................................................... 57 3.4 Ownership of multiple SIMs................................................................................................................. 58 3.5 Expenditure on mobile phones and top ups..................................................................................... 61 ICTs in Myanmar: 2016 7 4. Internet use ............................................................................................................................................ 64 4.1 Devices used to connect to the Internet ............................................................................................ 64 4.2 Uses of mobile phones ........................................................................................................................ 66 Free (zero-rated) content ........................................................................................................................... 73 5. Digital skills ........................................................................................................................................... 75 6. Financial inclusion ............................................................................................................................... 78 6.1 Bank account and debit/credit card ownership ............................................................................... 78 6.2 Migrant family members, money transfer methods of household with immigrants ................... 79 7. Information sources, needs and access .......................................................................................... 80 7.1 Communication with those outside town or village ........................................................................ 80 7.2 Information needs ................................................................................................................................ 81 7.3 Source of information .......................................................................................................................... 82 7.4 Mode of information ............................................................................................................................ 82 8. Perceptions about mobile technology and its impacts .............................................................. 83 8.1 Perceived benefits of mobile use and access ................................................................................... 83 8.2 Concerns about mobile use and access ............................................................................................ 84 Annex 1: Methodology note 1. Sample Design ....................................................................................................................................... 87 1.1 Survey Representativeness ................................................................................................................. 87 1.2 Sample Size determination ................................................................................................................. 90 1.3 Sampling Method ................................................................................................................................. 90 1.4 Sample Allocations............................................................................................................................... 94 8 ICTs in Myanmar: 2016 1.5 List of Survey Covered Townships...................................................................................................... 96 2. Selection probabilities and sampling weights ............................................................................. 98 2.1 Selection probabilities for different sampling stages ...................................................................... 98 First Stage Unit (FSU or PSU), Township ................................................................................................. 98 Second Stage Unit (SSU), Ward or Village Tract ...................................................................................... 98 Third Stage Unit (TSU), Segments ............................................................................................................ 99 Households ................................................................................................................................................. 99 2.2 Sampling Weights for Households ..................................................................................................... 100 2.3 Sampling Weights for household members aged 15 – 65 years-old ............. ................................ 100 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 : Summary of findings: Mobile momentum in Myanmar .................................................................. 16 Figure 2: Sample demographics – gender (% of population aged 15-65) .....................................................