Many Starlink internet terminals operating in parts of Myanmar, including areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) as well as regions in Rakhine State, Karenni State and other parts of the country, have been hit by service restrictions after receiving “Region Restricted” notifications, according to users and local service providers.
The disruption began on July 2. Although the terminals remain powered on, users say they are no longer able to connect to the internet.
Residents said multiple Starlink terminals have been affected in Ponnagyun and Minbya townships in Rakhine State, with more than 20 units reportedly restricted in Minbya Township alone. At least six terminals have also been affected in Karenni State.
According to notifications received by users, the restrictions may have been triggered because the country where the account was registered does not match the location where the terminal is being used, or because the permitted period for international use has expired, local service providers said.
Myanmar is not among the countries where Starlink is officially available. As a result, many users operate terminals registered in neighboring countries, including Thailand and Bangladesh, before bringing them into Myanmar.
Local technology service providers said the restrictions appear to be linked primarily to a mismatch between the registered country and the terminal’s physical location, rather than to customer identity verification.
“Starlink appears to be identifying the physical location of the dish and sending ‘Region Restricted’ notices to terminals operating far from the country where the account was registered,” one Starlink service provider told New Day Myanmar. “This is unrelated to whether Customer Verification ID has been completed. The restriction is based on the location of the terminal relative to the country where the account was created.”
The provider added that one terminal previously affected by the same restriction resumed normal service after being moved closer to the Bangladesh border, although it remains unclear whether proximity to the registered country was the reason the restriction was lifted.
Starlink has become a critical communications tool in areas of Rakhine, Karenni, Sagaing, Magway, Kachin, Chin, Karen, Mon and Shan states where mobile phone and internet services have been cut off. It is widely used to support communications, healthcare and humanitarian operations.
Some local service providers have advised affected users to temporarily switch off their terminals, although Starlink has not officially confirmed that doing so would restore service.
Neither Starlink nor its parent company, SpaceX, has issued a statement explaining whether the restrictions are part of a nationwide policy affecting Myanmar or are related specifically to account registration and terminal location.
