Junta cuts mobile internet access in some Arakan State townships

By DMG 12 Feb 2022

DMG Newsroom
12 February 2022, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military regime has cut off mobile data, the main source of internet access for millions of people in Arakan State, in some of the state’s townships since February 12, according to local people.

The townships without mobile internet access included Sittwe, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Kyauktaw, Kyaukphyu and Thandwe, said locals interviewed by DMG.

“Internet access has been shut down. I cannot use mobile internet at all,” said a resident of Mrauk-U town.

Local people say the internet shutdown has affected businesses in Arakan State.

“The internet shutdown could be a problem in the long run. Now I cannot transfer money due to the internet shutdown. With the internet access cut off, it will be difficult for people to access information,” said a resident of Thandwe town.

Mobile internet services have also been cut off in some cities outside Arakan State, such as Yangon and Mandalay. It is not yet known why the internet access was shut down on February 12, and whether the move was intended to coincide with Union Day. Mobile phone operators have not publicly announced any internet shutdown.

Reports that mobile internet access would be cut off from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. on February 12 were widely circulated on social media.

Internet access was cut off in eight Arakan State townships and Paletwa Township in Chin State in June 2019, amid heavy fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army. The shutdown lasted more than a year for many of the affected internet users.