Fact-Check: Claims That Starlink Will Suspend Border Area Services Are False

Starlink Limits Services in Myanmar Border Areas, But Claims of Nationwide Shutdown Prove False

False claims about Starlink suspending all services across Myanmar’s border regions have been circulating on Telegram since mid-October, according to fact-checkers from the Myanmar Fact-Checking Network (MFCN).

Several Telegram channels, including Digital Daily and Kyaw Gyi, each with over 4,000 subscribers, began spreading messages claiming that Elon Musk’s satellite internet service would halt operations along Myanmar’s borders. These posts received between 500 and 2,000 views before being shared more widely across social media platforms.

The Karen Information Center (KIC), an MFCN member organization, investigated these claims and determined them to be false. Their investigation revealed a more nuanced situation: Starlink has indeed restricted services, but only in specific areas linked to telecommunications fraud operations.

According to reports from Agence France-Presse (AFP), SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, suspended internet services on October 16 in areas around known telecom scam hubs in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, near the Thai-Myanmar border. This targeted suspension affected locations including Shwe Kokko, Wawlay, and Kyeikdon, areas that have gained notoriety for housing large-scale scam operations.

The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee is reportedly investigating potential connections between Starlink’s services and these fraudulent telecommunications operations, which have become a growing regional concern. These scam centers often engage in various forms of cybercrime, including romance scams, crypto investment fraud, and other online deception schemes that have victimized people across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Myanmar’s post-coup internet landscape has become increasingly fragmented, with the military junta cutting off internet coverage in many resistance-controlled regions. This communication vacuum has made Starlink’s satellite internet crucial for residents, businesses, and resistance groups in these areas.

“Starlink has become a lifeline for communications in regions where traditional internet infrastructure has been deliberately disabled,” said a local telecommunications analyst who requested anonymity for security reasons. “Any disruption to these services has significant implications for information flow and daily operations in these areas.”

The CJ Platform, a local media outlet, reported that even some internet cafés unaffiliated with scam operations experienced network outages in the affected regions. However, contrary to the viral claims, Starlink services remain operational in Myanmar’s other border areas adjacent to neighboring countries.

The Independent Mon News Agency confirmed that even within Myawaddy Township, the service interruptions were not universal, with some areas maintaining access to Starlink’s satellite network.

The false information appears designed to create panic and confusion, particularly by suggesting that resistance groups like the People’s Defense Force (PDF) would lose their ability to communicate and raise funds. Since the February 2021 military coup, various resistance groups have relied on stable internet connections to coordinate activities and maintain contact with supporters both domestically and internationally.

Media reports consistently show that Starlink’s limitations are specifically targeted at areas associated with scam operations rather than being a comprehensive border shutdown. When researchers conducted advanced Google searches using keywords like “Starlink usage in border areas” and “Starlink shutdown,” results only mentioned the specific outages near telecom scam hubs in Myawaddy since late October.

The MFCN urges social media users to verify information through reliable fact-checking organizations before sharing potentially false claims. The organization maintains a website and Facebook page where Myanmar residents can request fact-checks or access verified information.

This incident highlights the ongoing information challenges in Myanmar, where internet access has become politicized and where disinformation campaigns frequently target resistance groups and civilians living in contested territories.