Residents of Arakan Army (AA) controlled Ramree and Kyaukphyu townships on Ramree Island in Arakan (Rakhine) State who are facing hardships due to internet blackouts think the AA should help.
The AA has controlled all of Ramree and Kyaukphyu townships, except for Kyaukphyu Town, since 11 March 2024 when it took full control of Ramree Township.
Since October 2024 the junta has blocked all the commercial network providers, ATOM, Ooredoo, Mytel, and MPT on Ramree Island, but it has not blocked the junta-controlled Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) Mec Tel CDMA 800 MHz network.
Once the junta blocked all other networks the residents of Ramree Island had no phone service or internet, so many bought MEC Tel CDMA 800 MHz network phones that allowed them to access the internet and phone network in some areas of Ramree Island.
However, in February 2025, as fighting between the junta and the AA escalated around Kyaukphyu Town, the AA banned Ramree Island residents from using the MEC Tel CDMA 800 MHz network phones, saying that they could pose a security threat to the AA’s military activities. AA officials warned communities that action would be taken against anyone who flouted the ban.
At the same time the AA enforced strict travel restrictions on Ramree Island that are still ongoing.
The complete communications blackout has made life even harder for Ramree Island residents. It has stopped them from being able to make and accept online payments, disrupted trade, made it hard for family members to stay connected and caused information blackouts.
A woman from Kyaukphyu Township said to DMG: “My husband works in Malaysia, and our family relies on the money he sends us. But since the phone networks were cut off, we've lost contact with him. Our family is really struggling because we depend on that money.”
A Ramree Township resident said: “Many families are struggling because of the communication blackout. They can't access online payment services or withdraw money, and the lack of information has caused a serious crisis for everyone—from traders and business owners to the poorest communities.”
Some Ramree Island residents think that the AA should provide an alternative internet service on the island.
A Kyaukphyu Township resident said to DMG: “We don’t need to talk about the junta anymore. The AA should focus on finding a way to restore communication networks for the public, putting in its best efforts. The people have supported the AA all along, and now it’s time for the AA to respond to the needs of the public.”
The junta has cut phone and internet services to all the 14 Arakan State townships controlled by the AA. The only internet and phone services are in Sittwe City and the towns of Kyaukphyu and Manaung, the only places the junta still controls in Arakan State.
But, in some of the Arakan State townships under AA control, such as Minbya, Mrauk-U, and Kyauktaw, the AA has allowed people to access the internet through alternate services not under the control of the junta, such as the Starlink satellite internet service.
