Mobile phone prices in Myanmar are likely to rise following the introduction of the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system and new tax regulations imposed by the military junta, according to sources in the phone market.
Starting April 1, the junta has mandated that all new phones sold in the market must be registered under the CEIR system and taxed before they can be used on telecommunications networks.
Under the CEIR tax structure, imported phones are subject to 5 percent customs duty, 5 percent commercial tax, 2 percent income tax, and penalties of up to 25 percent. Combined with the original price, these charges are expected to significantly increase retail prices.
“Taxes alone could range from over 30 percent to as high as 37 percent. For example, a phone worth 2 million kyats could require more than 700,000 kyats in additional taxes. That means phones will have to be sold at much higher prices,” said a phone trader in Mawlamyine.
Market estimates suggest that a phone originally priced at 1 million kyats could rise to around 1.3 million kyats after taxes, while a high-end phone priced at 6 million kyats could exceed 8 million kyats.
Prices are already fluctuating, and sellers are advising buyers to check whether newly purchased phones are officially registered and taxed under the CEIR system.
For low-income consumers, purchasing new phones may become increasingly difficult. A resident from Kyaikmayaw Township said people may have no choice but to continue using their existing devices more carefully.
“Even now, buying a phone is already difficult for us. If prices go up further, people like us won’t be able to afford new phones. We will have to keep using old ones,” she said.
Phones that were already in use with SIM cards before March 31, 2026, are exempt from taxes and have been automatically registered under the CEIR system, allowing continued use within the specified period.
However, phones that have not yet been fitted with SIM cards have been placed on a blacklist. If users insert a SIM card without paying the required taxes, network access will be blocked within 30 days.
While the CEIR system is officially intended to control illegal phone imports and increase tax revenue, technology experts warn that it could also enable broader surveillance. They advise users to remain cautious about personal data and privacy, given the military junta’s monitoring capabilities.
