A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025, causing widespread devastation, loss of life, and infrastructure damage.
In times of disaster, connectivity becomes a lifeline—allowing affected communities to reach emergency services, access critical information, and communicate with loved ones. However, in Myanmar, where Internet restrictions and shutdowns are ongoing (see blog post), the earthquake has left many without reliable communication when they need it most.
While the loss of connectivity (Figure 1) can be attributed to physical damage to telecommunications infrastructure, the history of artificial barriers to connectivity in Myanmar raises concerns that restrictive policies may exacerbate the problem.
Connectivity as a Lifeline
The Myanmar Internet Project issued a statement confirming significant Internet disruptions in earthquake-affected regions.
The junta’s handling of communication during this disaster has been criticized, with reports highlighting the failure of official channels to provide timely and transparent updates. Given this, international aid efforts are stepping in to help restore connectivity and ensure people can get the information they need to survive and recover.
Information about Myanmar’s devastating earthquake has been limited due to the ruling military junta’s severe restrictions on access to the internet and social media as part of its effort to curb protests against its ruthless rule. https://t.co/ZwFlowQDk0
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) March 30, 2025
Telecom Sans Frontières (TSF), an organization specializing in emergency telecommunications, is mobilizing to provide critical aid. Despite the lack of official Starlink coverage in Myanmar, SpaceX has also offered assistance. These efforts underscore the urgent need for open and unrestricted Internet access to support relief operations and enable communication for those affected.
Restoring Communication
The government and telecom providers should collaborate with international organizations to set up emergency Wi-Fi hotspots and restore mobile network services in earthquake-struck areas.
Also, as power outages following the earthquake have left many without a means to charge their phones, deploying mobile charging stations can help people stay connected.
Read: Keeping the Internet on Following Natural Disasters
Finally, Myanmar authorities must lift barriers to importing communication devices, such as satellite terminals and mobile infrastructure, to facilitate disaster relief efforts.
A Call for Open Access
In this moment of crisis, the Myanmar government has a moral obligation to remove artificial barriers to connectivity. Internet access should not be weaponized or restricted during emergencies—it should be a relief, coordination, and rebuilding tool.
As of 31 March 2025, several messaging platforms such as Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, and Signal (Figure 2) are still heavily throttled or blocked.
Figure 2 — Connectivity tests to Facebook Messenger, Signal, and WhatsApp from within Myanmar returned anomalies and failures before the earthquake on 28 March 2025. (Source: OONI)
The international community, civil society organizations, and telecommunications providers must continue advocating for open, resilient, and unrestricted Internet access in Myanmar, both during crises and beyond. Read KeepItOn’s Joint statement: Myanmar must lift internet restrictions following devastating earthquake.
Photo by @infogempadunia via Instagram.