Residents of Payathonzu, a town on the Thailand-Myanmar border, are facing increasing difficulties in accessing phone and internet services, following over a month of electricity and internet outages from the Thai side.
On February 5, Thai authorities cut off electricity and fuel supplies to Payathonzu as part of efforts to crack down on online scam operations in the area. By late February, Thai SIM cards were also blocked, further restricting communication access.
Initially, residents switched to Myanmar-based ATOM SIM cards. However, since March 20, even those connections have ceased, leaving the entire town without any mobile network access.
The communication blackout has made it increasingly difficult for residents to stay in touch with one another, particularly during emergencies.
“There’s no longer any Telenor service in Payathonzu. To get a signal, people have to cross over to Thailand or go to Bopayagon. Even then, it’s still difficult to make contact. Right now, I’m on the Thai side, but once I return, there will be no connection at all,” said a local resident.
Due to the communication crisis, some residents holding Thai residency permits are reportedly planning to relocate to Sangkhla Buri District in Thailand.
The electricity and internet shutdown has also disrupted livelihoods, particularly for those relying on digital platforms.
“It’s been over a month now. Many businesses depend on electricity and internet access. For example, rubber trading has come to a halt. Those without generators or solar power are struggling. Some people have lost hundreds of thousands of baht because they can’t run their online businesses,” said another resident.
With businesses struggling and inflation rising, low-income families are facing mounting challenges in securing daily necessities. The price of clean drinking water in Payathonzu has risen to between 10 and 20 baht per bottle, while utility water now costs between 15 and 22 baht per unit.
The Thai government’s crackdown on online scam operations led to the February 5 shutdown of electricity, fuel, and internet access in five key border locations, including Payathonzu. Since then, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) has been assisting Thai authorities in operations to dismantle illegal online financial networks, including arrests and deportations.
While there are no visible Chinese nationals in central Payathonzu, locals report that some continue to reside in remote areas as of mid-March.
