Following fierce fighting near the military council’s strategic Anan Kwin unit on the Thanbyuzayat-Three Pagodas highway in Kyaikmayaw Township, Karen State, many nearby villages are facing major phone lines and internet outages, according to locals.
The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) coalition forces attacked the regime’s strategic military Anan Kwin unit and Lut Shan unit around mid-August, leading to intense fighting in the region.
Amid the heavy fighting, phone lines and internet services were cut off in more than 10 villages, including Anan Kwin and Lut Shan, Paya, Pu Taw, Pan Aung, Khun Nawa, and Ta Nyin.
“The internet connection has been down in Anan Kawin for a while now. Before the fighting got worse, some places still had access to the internet. But after the intense fighting, the phone line and internet connection were cut off completely. We don’t know if the phone towers were destroyed or the military junta cut off the phone lines,” said a local resident from the conflict zone.
It is believed that outages may be due to towers being destroyed by the fighting or difficulties maintaining them because of security concerns.
Although phone lines and internet services had been disrupted since the clashes started in the areas, locals pointed out that services and connections had been shut down entirely as the fighting escalated.
“There has been no phone signal in Anan Kwin ever since the conflict started. As the conflict intensified, nearby villages with limited access to phone signals also started losing access. Internet service in the area has been shut down. I am currently in the city. I could not contact people in the village,” said a woman from Ana Kwin village.
As part of its communication and access to information control action, the military junta has cut off phones and shut down regular internet connections in conflict-affected areas. Some areas have been facing internet access blackouts for a year now.
“It has been years since the internet has been cut off in our town. We used to have limited access, but now the situation has become worse, and no more internet service is available,” a resident from Thee Pho Naing village said.
The report by Athan, an activist group advocating for freedom of expression, reveals that by February 2024, nearly 80 townships across Myanmar had experienced phone and internet outages since the military coup.
On September 14, 2024, the Independent Myanmar Media Council (IPMC) urged the junta not to shut down internet services, arguing that such actions prevent people in danger from seeking help, leading to more casualties.
