During the frequent junta-imposed internet blackout, residents of the arid central area of Myanmar known as Anyar are still able to access news using the Starlink satellite internet system.
Since the February 2021 coup, the junta has frequently imposed internet and phone blackouts in Anyar and other states and regions, to suppress the flow of information. This makes it harder for news about junta soldiers committing human rights abuses in such areas to get out.
But, since mid 2024, some residents of Anyar have had access to hotspots set up using the Starlink satellite system, which the junta cannot block, censor or control.
In Anyar, individuals who can afford it and some resistance groups have purchased Skynet satellite services and set up public hotspots for a fee, a trend that has largely addressed the issue of network outages in the area, according to Comrade Than Khe the chairman of the Anyar region All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), one of the groups that has been setting up Starlink hotspots in Anyar.
He explained that previously residents would be starved of news when the junta cut the internet because when the internet is down the only way they can get any news is by watching television, which is all controlled by the junta.
He said: “Fewer people watch TV these days—it’s kind of outdated when it comes to getting news. From students to the elderly, most people use phones or tablets to find the information they need. So, when the internet’s down, locals really struggle to stay informed. These days, folks mostly turn on the TV just to watch football; it’s not really reliable for accessing news anymore.”
He went on to explain that Starlink hotspots do not just provide people with truthful, up-to-date news, they can also be used to communicate with friends and family far away and abroad.
“With Starlink access, people here can finally get online again—and not just for news. They can actually talk to their families, even those living far away or overseas. That’s a game changer for folks who’ve been cut off by the junta’s internet blackout,” Comrade Than Khe said.
Explaining even more ways that the residents of Anyar can profit from the Starlink hotspots Comrade Than Khe added: “At the Starlink hotspots, you’ll see people of all ages using the internet. When you see two elderly folks in their 70s looking at a phone together, chances are they’re not watching videos or playing games—they’re probably catching up with their children who live far away. For younger people, it’s a chance to study, explore their hobbies, or just relax with things like TikTok. It also lets them stay connected and share updates with one another.”
Though, when internet and phone signals go down in Anyar, it is not just communication and news that are affected. The disruption also hit online businesses and makes money transfers nearly impossible. But, businesses that have access to Starlink hotspots in Anyar can minimise the disruption caused by the junta’s internet blackouts.
