NAYPYIDAW: Internet service has been restored in some parts of the Rakhine and Chin States after a government-sanctioned blackout that lasted for more than a year.
Communications Department director-general U Myo Swe said the government had restored Internet service in all townships in Rakhine and Chin States, which were shut down in June last year in an apparent effort to disrupt Arakan Army operations.
Myo Swe, whose department came under the Transportation and Communications Ministry, said since last year, the government had extended the shutdown every three months.
"Although we have lifted the ban on Internet service, we have to watch out for terrorists trying to use the Internet to launch attacks, so there will still be some restrictions in some areas."
Myo Swe gave no details about the restrictions.
Rakhine State residents confirmed the lifting of the ban, but claimed that the service was intermittent and poor.
U Htun Thar Sein, state lawmaker for Mrauk-U, said Internet access was restored on Sunday morning in the township he represented.
"It still has problems. I heard that people in Kyauktaw township were also having problems."
The government shut down Internet service on June 19 last year in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon townships in Rakhine State and the Paletwa township in Chin State.
On May 3, the government resumed Internet service in Maungdaw, citing improved security in the area.
Human rights groups had repeatedly called on the government to end the blackout during the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that the lack of access to information was a threat to the people, especially in war-torn areas.
It was reported that more than a million people in Rakhine and Chin States had no access to information due to the blackout.
The military and Arakan Army have been in conflict since the armed group tried to set up a base in Mrauk-U in November 2018.