4G mobile internet connectivity restored to parts of Arakan State

By DMG 03 Feb 2021

DMG Newsroom
3 February 2021, Sittwe 

4G mobile internet services were restored in conflict-affected parts of Arakan State on Tuesday, a day after Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup. 

“I only knew about it in the morning. My friends told me that the internet resumed around midnight. Of course, it is more convenient than 2G to use the internet,” said Rathedaung Township resident U Myo Kyaw. 

In June 2019, authorities imposed an internet blackout on eight townships in Arakan State — Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Myebon, Maungdaw and Buthidaung — and Chin State’s Paletwa Township, citing security concerns amid fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army. 

Internet services resumed in some townships in September 2019 but the government reimposed restrictions in February 2020, and then restored 4G services in Maungdaw Township in May. In August, the government allowed mobile internet connectivity once again in Buthidaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon and Paletwa townships, but network access was limited to 2G services. 

U Pe Than, who represented Myebon Township as a member of Parliament’s Lower House in the pre-coup era, said he welcomed the resumption of internet services, noting that Arakanese people had effectively endured a news blackout for more than a year. 

“I think the Tatmadaw government has resumed internet services because it is observing a ceasefire with the AA [Arakan Army],” said U Pe Than. “And perhaps they might want to make a change of their own volition after taking power. ... They may shut down the internet if fresh clashes take place. It depends on military tensions.” 

Other local media outlets reported that internet services have also resumed in Paletwa Township, Chin State. 

Ko Aung Khaing Soe from the Mrauk-U Youth Association said he was concerned that 4G services could be cut off again at any time because authorities have not officially announced a lifting of the internet restrictions. 

“Though internet connectivity is restored, authorities have not officially announced about internet resumption, and I have some concerns about it. Because when they shut down internet services, they made an official announcement,” he said. 

The web blackout left more than 600,000 people in Arakan State without access to functioning internet for more than one year.