Resistance forces have ordered the temporary closure of Starlink internet service outlets in Indaw Township in Sagaing Region, near the border with Kachin State.
The Indaw Township People’s Administration announced on May 3 that the temporary ban will remain in effect until further notice.
During the temporary restriction period, anyone found using Starlink Wi-Fi will face strict warnings and possible confiscation of their devices, the announcement said.
“Because of the current military situation, we’ve temporarily banned public use of Wi-Fi. A similar order is already in place in nearby Katha Township. This means residents are not allowed to use Wi-Fi for security reasons while junta troops are operating in Indaw,” a resistance fighter explained.
The announcement stated that Starlink would be banned at Wi-Fi service outlets and in homes, except in offices operated by the resistance-run National Unity Government (NUG).
A junta offensive forced resistance forces to withdraw from Indaw, the township’s administrative center, on April 30. Junta columns are now advancing toward Mawlu in Sagaing Region.
Days after losing Indaw Town, resistance forces temporarily barred public use of Starlink. The announcement said that anyone with an urgent need for internet access could contact the authorities.
Since March, the junta has stepped up efforts to retake resistance-controlled areas along the border of Sagaing Region and Kachin State. It has recaptured Tigyaing and Takaung towns, and later Katha and Indaw also came under its control.
