Mobile Internet Suspended in Mozambique, 3 November

Mozambique

3 November, 2024 18:30 - 4 November, 2024 06:00 (11 hours)

Local Impact

Data and media reports indicate that mobile Internet has been suspended in Mozambique for a second time in as many weeks amidst protests after the presidential election results were announced. Like last time, fixed Internet continues to be available.

There are also reports of service blocking, including VPNs, since Thursday, 31 October, although limited data confirms this. Residents are encouraged to run OONI probe tests to measure whether popular Internet services can be connected via local networks.

[Update]

Mobile Internet services returned to normal on Monday, 4 November, around 6:00 UTC but were again suspended at 18:30 UTC — see new event.

Experiences

They’re holding us hostage in our own country. They’ve shut down the internet AGAIN violating our right to freedom of speech and to have access to the internet, mind you, said internet was PAID with our own money.#Mozambique #freemozambique #Endpolicebrutality #notmypresident

— Yolly♥♀ (@Bookaholictiruh) November 3, 2024

THEY HAVE CUT OUR INTERNET FULLY ONCE MORE! not limiting access to social media, not slowing down the internet but fully shutdown! #Mozambique #RiggedElections #FreeMozambique #DemocracyNow #EndPoliceBrutality #HumanRightsMatter

— A🧚🏽‍♀️ (@liliimone) November 3, 2024

Cause Documentation

No official cause documentation has been made public.

Data and Analysis

Data from Cloudflare Radar, IODA, and Google’s Transparency Report show drops in mobile connectivity across Mozambique.

Cloudflare Radar shows the overall connectivity for Mozambique dropping starting around 18:30 UTC:

Cloudflare Radar chart showing drop in overall Internet connectivity in Mozambique over the past 48 hours.

Wired / fixed networks continue to provide Internet access, but mobile networks have shut down access. This can be seen in the charts for mobile providers Vodacom Mozambique and Viettel Group.

Cloudflare Radar chart showing drop in Internet connectivity on Vodacom Mozambique's network over the past 24 hours.

Cloudflare Radar chart showing drop in overall Internet connectivity on Viettel Group's network over the past 24 hours.

Of note, Internet connectivity on Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique’s network has been interrupted on several occasions since the first shutdown event on 25 October 2024.

Cloudflare Radar chart showing several drops in Internet connectivity on Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique's network over the past 2 weeks

This chart from IODA shows the decrease in Google Search results (the purple line). The orange line indicates that fixed Internet connectivity is continuing as normal.

Chart from IODA that shows a drop in connectivity today in Mozambique

The following chart from OONI shows there is no conclusive evidence that popular social media services are being blocked, similarly for popular messaging services Facebook Messenger, Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp.

[Update]

Cloudflare Radar shows Internet traffic trends returning to normal on Monday, 4 November around 6:00 UTC. Of note, a new shutdown event began at 18:00 the same day — see event page.

Cloudflare Radar chart showing drop in overall Internet connectivity in Mozambique from 3 to 4 November.

Conversations

Vodacom & Movitel also experiencing outages, along with TDM. All #mobile connectivity in #Mozambique has been disrupted. pic.twitter.com/eODQvgAWg7

— Cloudflare Radar (@CloudflareRadar) November 4, 2024

There is a second TOTAL internet shutdown in #Mozambique 🇲🇿
Not even with VPN is possible to connect. After restricting social media for 5 days to prevent protests, Frelimo government has decided to take it to the next level by completely shutting down internet services🛜TRAGIC

— Cídia Chissungo (@Cidiachissungo) November 3, 2024

#Mozambique
In Mozambique, mobile operators are without internet access, not even with VPNs.
The internet went down around 8 PM today (11/03), an hour before Venâncio Mondlane’s live session.
Internet access is only possible via satellite or broadband. https://t.co/cfsWMzlzm4

— POVO NO PODER🇲🇿 (@lidiaazzz) November 3, 2024

Internet Shutdowns

Mozambique