SpaceX Starlink Blackout Cuts Off 13 Million in Myanmar as Civil War Cripples Internet
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Aug 22
SpaceX Starlink Blackout Cuts Off 13 Million in Myanmar as Civil War Cripples Internet
3 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Aug 22
Summary
An estimated 13 million people in Myanmar — nearly a quarter of the population — rely on Starlink and now risk losing one of their last internet links.
SpaceX's blackout hits civilians in anti-government and conflict-affected areas, not just the cybercriminals the move was framed as targeting.
Nearly 40% of Myanmar's townships already face intermittent or total internet shutdowns each month as the military restricts access.
Since the 2021 coup, mobile-network blackouts and war damage to telecom infrastructure have made satellite internet a critical fallback for isolated communities.