# Myanmar residents struggle to overcome severe internet blackouts with Starlink

Source: https://restofworld.org/2024/myanmar-internet-blackouts-app-vpn-bans-starlink
Kiwi News: https://news.kiwistand.com/stories/Myanmar-residents-struggle-to-overcome-severe-internet-blackouts-with-Starlink?index=0x6721e5655aad84cccc60875c636ffda796f0a474ae7e52eb6ae6bc47bd27f539a9927888
Submitted by babbonatale.eth on 2024-10-30 UTC, 7 upvotes, 2 comments

## Summary

Myanmar residents are struggling with severe internet blackouts after the junta banned VPNs in late May, with many turning to Starlink despite its lack of a license in the country. Wai Phyo Myint, Myanmar lead at Access Now, said the VPN blocks have severely affected small businesses, students, aid groups, and journalists. The Myanmar Internet Project estimates there may be more than 3,000 Starlink dishes in use, and David Eubank of Free Burma Rangers said the system has greatly improved his group's humanitarian work.

## Article

In Myanmar’s northern Kachin state, Seng had struggled with internet shutdowns and low bandwidth since the military coup of 2021. Then came the blocks on social media platforms including Facebook. But it was the recent ban on virtual private networks (VPNs) that really hurt her online clothing business.

“When they banned Facebook, I hired someone to use a VPN and post on our Facebook page from an area where the internet was still accessible,” Seng, who asked to go by a single name to protect her identity, told Rest of World. “After they banned VPNs, I have to go to Yangon from time to time to try and upload photos and videos with any VPN that still works. Sometimes, I cannot do it.”

There have been more than 300 internet shutdowns across the country since February 1, 2021, according to the Myanmar Internet Project, an advocacy group. Residents have also faced partial shutdowns of internet and mobile networks, bandwidth limitations, and social media blocks. Those in Sagaing region, and the states of Kachin and Shan, which have seen fierce fighting with resistance forces, are particularly affected.

The junta has banned encrypted messaging apps such as Signal and WhatsApp, and restricted social media apps including Facebook, Instagram, and X. Only Telegram and TikTok — which the junta uses for propaganda and to dox activists — are accessible. The junta has also launched its version of YouTube, called MTube, and MySpace (not to be confused with the now largely defunct U.S. platform of the same name.)

VPNs were widely used after the coup to access the internet anonymously and get around the social media blocks. Since May 30, however, they have been banned. Those found with banned apps on their mobile devices risk arrest and fines. This has greatly affected small businesses and workers who rely on online platforms, as well as students, aid groups, and journalists, said Wai Phyo Myint, Myanmar lead at digital rights nonprofit Access Now.

“The impacts are quite severe, particularly the VPN blocks,” she told Rest of World. “VPNs are necessary for secure communication: They ensure safety and anonymity, and can hide one’s digital footprint from military surveillance. Now, people don’t have that security, which is concerning; it’s a life-and-death issue.”

Myanmar tied with China for the worst environment for internet freedom this year, marking the first time a country has ranked as low as China in a decade, according to a new report from Freedom House, an advocacy group. As of January 2024, internet penetration in Myanmar was just 44%, the lowest rate in Southeast Asia after East Timor. Average mobile download speeds in Myanmar declined by nearly 10% during the 12-month period to May 31, 2024, according to the annual report.

The military’s control over major service providers has meant “mass censorship and surveillance,” the report said. Besides the high cost of internet data, hundreds of cellphone towers have been damaged in the conflict, and hours-long power outages are the norm, further hindering internet access.

With several popular VPNs such as NordVPN and Psiphon banned, people are resorting to free VPN software that may not have strong encryption protocols, leaving users vulnerable to surveillance, a spokesperson for the Myanmar Internet Project told Rest of World.

“It’s a choice between a rock and a hard place: If you have a VPN that works, you cannot be certain it is secure and safe. If you don’t have a VPN that works, then any internet use is going to be monitored and scrutinized,” the spokesperson said. “Internet shutdowns have been weaponized, and a campaign of terror is being waged against the public.”

A Starlink system seen in northern Myanmar. Free Burma Rangers

With several protocols blocked, people are setting up their own servers and trying to find VPNs that still work. “It takes time and effort and technical knowledge, and not everyone has that,” the spokesperson said.

People in Myanmar have resorted to a variety of alternative technologies to exchange information, record human rights violations, for education, and to eke out a living. These include walkie-talkies, long-range mesh networking devices, range extenders and repeaters — and, increasingly, satellite systems.

They all come with challenges: Walkie-talkies have become expensive, and the junta frequently uses signal jammers. Mesh networking devices that can connect several devices in off-grid areas have limited bandwidth, and need consistent power supply, while range extenders to boost signal strength do not work in internet shutdowns.

In areas with frequent communications blackouts, satellite-based internet has become the only option. Starlink, which is not yet licensed in Myanmar, is in high demand. Anti-junta forces have set up Starlink systems in dozens of areas in the Sagaing and Magway regions, and in Karenni and Kachin states. There may be more than 3,000 Starlink dishes in use in the country, the Myanmar Internet Project estimates.

“It’s the only viable solution for end users,” the spokesperson said. “Others are not end user-oriented, and are also expensive, and need a lot of technical expertise.”

In Karenni, where the junta cut internet and mobile networks last November, several small internet cafes have sprung up. They provide internet access for about 1,000 kyat (50 cents) per hour. “Having Starlink has become necessary, as it is the only way for us to go online,” a community leader in Karenni, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, told Rest of World.

3,000 The estimated number of active Starlink dishes in Myanmar.

David Eubank, director of humanitarian group Free Burma Rangers, has used walkie-talkies, handheld FM radios, and satellite phones for years in the mountainous northern areas. Even for him, Starlink has become essential, he told Rest of World. Starlink is “cheaper, faster, and easier to use” compared to the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) satellite system that they used earlier, he said.

“Starlink, for us, has really improved our ability to do humanitarian assistance, to know what’s going on, provide quicker relief, document and report human rights abuses, and be able to save lives,” Eubank said. “It’s really been a huge blessing for us.”

His group has distributed dozens of Starlink units to schools and clinics in areas that have lost connectivity. The system has also come in handy for performing emergency medical procedures in remote areas with instructions from doctors over video calls, he said.

But there are concerns that Starlink might crack down on unlicensed use, or that authorities in neighboring countries — who are pursuing cyberscam operations along the borders — may confiscate systems being brought into the country, Eubank said.

For the millions in Myanmar without access to Starlink, getting online is a constant challenge — and a huge risk. Ko Taik, who co-founded the Political Prisoners Network - Myanmar, used Facebook to publicize their work and raise funds, and the Signal messaging app for communications. Now, he and his colleagues in Karen state use VPNs with “significantly slower” speeds, resulting in dropped calls and delays, the 23-year-old former engineering student told Rest of World.

“I often miss important meetings … [and] encounter significant delays in posting information,” he said. “The only option we have is to travel 45 minutes to the border to access Thai mobile networks. But we do that at significant risk to our lives.”

## Comments

**tim**: It is such a disgrace how some people belittle Starlink. I remember reading somewhere that "no, it isn't game-changing because many places in the US already have existing land lines, so why would you need the satellites of le evil tech billionaire." They conveniently ignore how Elon's free speech absolutism which is so often demonized also has its benefits for humanity by, for example, bringing uncensored internet access ANYWHERE and for low cost too. This is obviously a huge deal because suddenly you've created a viable option where there was none whatsoever. What were people supposed to do in countries where the land lines are censored? Often the censor captures the country-internal VPN providers too.

Perhaps most of these people haven't even been to places where the internet is heavily censored. I visited China in 2019 and I can tell you my western Android phone was practically unusable. It would overheat and run out of battery quickly because it was frantically connecting to Google Play Services unsuccessfully. None of my apps worked at all! Neither did the western VPNs. So I downloaded some VPNs that were freely downloadable in China. Go figure!

For people who are usually hating Elon through mood affiliation like rocketman=bad, a story like this must truly break their brains.

**misha**: Yes I think it’s great those sats are up there. But wen airdrop ;)