Mandalay Sees Internet Boom

MANDALAY, Burma — The number of internet users in Mandalay has  increased fourfold in the past three years, according to IT industry  experts in the city.

“More and more people are using the internet, at government offices  and in private organisations,” said a representative of Mandalay’s  Yadanabon Cyber Corp. “One reason is that computer training classes  are now including Internet usage in their programmes.”

In the past, he said, most Internet users were young, but now people  of all ages are logging on.

“Football fans visit websites for information on players and matches,  medical professionals check health care sites, business people check  the prices of commodities in the market, academics search for  information for research papers, and people with relatives overseas  send emails,” he said.

With the number of internet cafés in Mandalay having risen from three  in 2003 to the current 10, the business is getting more competitive  as well.

Ko Yan Lin Aung, manager of Evolution internet café, said he uses  seven to eight gallons of diesel a day to keep his business running  but is not concerned about profits at the moment. “We’re looking at  the long-term benefits of running the café,” he said. (Myanmar Times,  Jul. 16, 2006)