Phone and internet outages have worsened in Thandaunggyi town, located in Taungoo District within Brigade-2 of the Karen National Union (KNU), making communication and access to information increasingly difficult, according to residents and media workers.
Since 2023, telephone lines have been frequently disrupted during the junta’s offensives and armed clashes around Leiktho in northern Thandaunggyi.
Residents report that even in Thandaunggyi town, where no fighting has occurred in 2025, phone and internet outages have significantly worsened.
A local from Thandaunggyi said: “Even if we couldn’t get a signal in town, we used to be able to make phone calls near the tower in the Bayintnaung unit if we needed to say something. But now, all the phone lines are down. Even if I want to communicate, I have to go in person. It feels like going back to the old days.”
Additionally, some local journalists seeking reliable information in the region have reported that phone and internet connectivity issues have caused delays in verifying on-the-ground conditions.
As a result, access to and control over timely and accurate information has been significantly compromised.
Residents of Leiktho said that since the military council frequently cuts off communications in the area, they have to travel to remote locations where a signal is available if they need to communicate about important matters.
According to a report released last March by Athan, an organization that documents human rights violations, there have been 460 communication outages across 203 townships in various regions and states — including Karen State — since the military takeover.
Similarly, the Myanmar Internet Project (MIP) stated in a release on 28 April that communication disruptions have contributed to rising prices in the region and have severely impacted access to health and education services.
sent by KIC
