Myanmar is planning to carry out reform in information and communication technology (ICT) starting first in Yangon region, official media reported Sunday.

IT experts have been invited by the Ministry of Communication, Post and Telegraph U Thein Tun to give advice for the reform move, said the New Light of Myanmar.

U Thein Tun told a workshop on ICT development Saturday that Myanmar is lagging behind in the ICT development compared with neighboring countries and called for hard work in the sector to catch up with other member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Regarding Myanmar's international communication, SEA-ME-WE-3 South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 3 system linking 34 countries, underwater cable system and satellite communication system and cross-border transmission link system have been built.

Plans are also underway to be able to link with SEA-ME-WE-4, Asia, Europe under water cable. It will be linked to SEA-ME-WE-4 via Bangladesh. After completion of the project, it can communicate with other countries included in SEA-ME-WE-4 cyber link via fiber cable.

With extended communication links with China, India, Thailand and Vietnam, the ICT sector is expected to develop rapidly.

Through these infrastructure, Myanmar people are using fax by phone and IP services with ADSL, WiFi, WiMAX wireless broadband systems.

The newly-established Yatanarpon web portal and triple play soft switch in Pyin Oo Lwin in October 2010 also fulfill the requirements for speedy development IP services.

Moreover, the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Service, one of the high standard communication technologies, was launched in Yangon and Mandalay in December 2010.