By Hlaing / MPA
In Hpakant Township, Mohnyin District, Kachin State, locals report that internet access in areas with Wi-Fi has become extremely expensive, with usage costing up to 30,000 kyats per hour after the military council shut down mobile network and internet access.
Since July 21, 2024, until today (August 6), mobile connection and internet, along with fiber internet have been down for 17 days in several townships in Kachin State, including Myitkyina City, Bhamo, Momauk , Waingmaw, Hpakant, Mohnyin, Mogaung, Hopin, and Shwegu.
Among these townships with internet outages, residents in Hpakant Township now rely on IP Star and Star Links Wi-Fi (satellite Wi-Fi) available in certain shops, where internet usage costs 30,000 kyats per hour.
“Since the internet access started down, we have had to queue up and take turns to use the internet once every three days, but now it takes a week for our turn to come. Even if my token is early in the morning, I have to wake up early to surf the internet,” a local man from Hpakant told MPA.
Currently, internet access is available in shops equipped with IP Star and Star Links Wi-Fi in Lone khin and Hseng Taung Wards in Hpakant.
Due to the communication cut-off, people in Mandalay, like businesswoman Ma Mon, cannot contact their families in Hpakant.
“I cannot even make a call from my side. When I try to talk over the internet, the connection is so patchy that we cannot have a proper conversation. Last week, we couldn’t talk as I didn’t get online,” she added.
Additionally, the prolonged internet cut-off has severely affected those who conduct business online, students who study online, and people involved in money transfer and withdrawal services.
“Both jade traders and other businesses rely on online money transfers and withdrawals. Without internet access, we can’t use K-Pay at all. Even if there is a connection, transfers often fail. In Hpakant, some shops charge a 5% to 10% transaction fee per hundred thousand kyats, but even then, we can’t always withdraw or deposit as much as we need,” said a person close to a resident of Phakant.
The internet and mobile connection shutdowns have led to some consequences: a lack of information flow, inability to order essential goods, rising food prices, and increased fuel prices.
“Since we are in the digital age where everything relies on the internet, the lack of internet access has made it extremely difficult for traders and businesses. This situation is affecting even the basic livelihood of the working class,” noted a local resident.
Telecom operators contacted for this issue stated that the lines are down due to maintenance, but provided no specific details with rumors among the public suggesting that underground cables may have been damaged.
Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, the military council has continued to shut down internet usage, increase mobile and Wi-Fi internet fees, cut Wi-Fi cables, and block VPNs, along with numerous other human rights violations.
