Netflix – the world’s largest internet television network – has come to Myanmar as part of the firm’s expansion into 130 new countries. But slow download speeds and expensive data fees mean Myanmar’s DVD shops are not under threat from online streaming just yet.
During a keynote speech at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Netflix co-founder and chief executive Reed Hastings said the move was “the birth of a new global internet TV network”.
“With this launch, consumers around the world – from Singapore to St Petersburg, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo – will be able to enjoy TV shows and movies simultaneously – no more waiting,” he said. “With the help of the internet, we are putting power in consumers’ hands to watch whenever, wherever and on whatever device.”
But the promise of no more waiting may be premature for Myanmar, which has just recently entered the age of 3G networks and Wi-Fi connections. Myanmar’s internet remains frustratingly slow. According to a May 2015 study conducted by internet metrics provider Ookla, Myanmar’s internet download speed averaged just over 6 megabits (Mbps) per second. At that speed it would take a Myanmar Netflix user 3.7 hours to download one gigabyte of video – such as an hour-long episode of Netflix’s original series House of Cards. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
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