Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Staying in touch with family or friends when you live, work, or travel in Myanmar has never been simple. Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, the question is no longer just about choosing between a local SIM card and hotel Wi-Fi—it now also plays out on the battlefield of censorship, network shutdowns, surveillance, and sometimes… pure ingenuity.
To keep in touch with loved ones from Myanmar, you have to deal with two simultaneous realities: a modern telecom infrastructure and a political regime that tightly controls information. This article details the communication methods still possible in this context.
## Understanding the terrain: a connected country… but under control
Before talking about tools, it’s essential to understand the context in which you communicate from Myanmar.
Since the military takeover, Myanmar’s internet has been ranked among the least free in the world. Freedom House gives it a score of 9/100 for the 2024–2025 period in terms of digital freedom, and the country is classified as “Not Free.” The authorities use every lever available: targeted or nationwide shutdowns, blocking of websites and apps, enhanced surveillance, and a punitive legislative arsenal.
Myanmar has modern telecommunications infrastructure (3G, 4G, fiber, Wi-Fi) and has seen a spectacular spread of mobile phones. The main problem lies in the political use of these technologies, not their absence.
### Internet, mobile, radio: what still exists
On paper, Myanmar has several mobile operators: MPT (state-owned historic operator), ATOM (formerly Telenor), Ooredoo, and Mytel. All run GSM 2G/3G/4G networks. In urban centers and typical tourist areas (Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake, Nay Pyi Taw), coverage is still good. But as soon as you move away from these areas, reality changes dramatically.
Since 2021, every township in the country has experienced at least one communications shutdown.
The authorities use the full technical palette: temporary nationwide shutdowns, regional blockages, massive bandwidth throttling, disabling of mobile data, whitelists of approved sites, targeted bombing of cell towers (over 400 antennas destroyed in 2021). Shutdowns often precede military offensives or airstrikes, as shown by a study linking more than 96% of airstrike victims to areas under shutdown.
In this unstable landscape, the means of contact fall into several main categories:
– mobile networks and traditional voice/SMS;
– internet (Wi‑Fi, data, internet cafés, satellite solutions);
– encrypted messaging apps and anti‑censorship tools;
– “offline” solutions: radio, mesh networks, mail, analog phone.
The following sections detail these possibilities, along with their advantages, limitations, and risks.
## Using local mobile networks without breaking the bank
For many visitors and residents alike, the first entry point remains the local SIM card. Despite political restrictions, basic network access is still possible in much of the country.
### Buying a SIM on the ground
SIM cards are sold at international airports (Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw), official operator stores, small phone shops, convenience stores, shopping malls, and even some hotels and guesthouses. Shops display the logos of MPT, ATOM, Ooredoo, or Mytel.
Local regulations require registration with a passport, needing a photocopy of the identity page, visa, and sometimes a passport photo. Anyone aged 12 or older can purchase a card, with a limit of two prepaid SIM cards per operator per person. All SIM card formats (standard, micro, nano) are available, and most European or Asian smartphones are compatible, working on GSM, 3G, and 4G networks (standard bands).
Price-wise, in “normal” times, a basic SIM costs around 1,500 kyats ($1–2). Data plans remain generally affordable: a few gigabytes run about 5,000 kyats. A decent prepaid plan (voice + data) costs between $10 and $20. “Tourist” SIMs also exist, for example from MPT (tourist SIM with 1 GB and voice credit for 10,000 kyats) or ATOM/Ooredoo.
But this pricing landscape is heavily disrupted as soon as a region experiences selective shutdowns. In some Sagaing townships, where only the MPT network remained partially functional, the price of an MPT SIM skyrocketed to 45,000 kyats each on the black market. Scarcity then becomes a central factor.
### Choosing the operator based on the area
In a country fragmented by shutdowns, the “ideal” operator depends on where you are:
| Area / type of zone | Often most useful operator* | Main advantage |
|—|—|—|
| Major cities (Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw) | Ooredoo, ATOM, Mytel | Data speed (fast 4G) |
| Remote rural areas | MPT | Wider 2G/3G coverage |
| Dense 4G zones (some corridors) | Mytel | Very wide LTE coverage |
| Highly militarized zones / Mytel boycott | Ooredoo, ATOM, MPT | Avoid operator directly linked to the military |
Subject to temporary shutdowns, which can reverse the situation from one day to the next.
Many residents in Myanmar use multiple SIM cards to adapt to network outages or variable coverage. For a foreign visitor, a combination of an operator like MPT (good rural coverage) with another like Ooredoo or ATOM (good urban data speed) often makes an effective compromise.
### Roaming, international calls, and hidden costs
Major foreign operators sometimes offer roaming in Myanmar, but with often prohibitive data rates. It’s wise to check with your home operator and, above all, disable data roaming if you don’t want to blow your budget.
Outgoing international calls from Myanmar remain very expensive: we’re talking several dollars per minute on some plans. Moreover, connections are sometimes unstable, especially to numbers outside major urban centers. In most cases, it’s much cheaper to use VoIP solutions or specialized cheap call services (we’ll come back to this).
## Navigating an internet under censorship: VPNs, blocks, and risks
To keep in touch with people abroad, the internet remains essential: video calls, messaging, emails, cloud storage, etc. Problem: the junta has set up a sophisticated system of filtering and surveillance.
### What is blocked… and what isn’t
Since February 2021, major international social networks and messaging apps are regularly blocked: Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), many independent media outlets, Wikipedia, crypto platforms, and circumvention tools (VPNs, proxies, Smart DNS). Keywords like “Burma,” “coup,” “democracy,” “human rights” in URLs can be enough to get a site banned.
The authorities have established a “whitelist” of permitted services. These include, for example, banking apps, some ride‑hailing or messaging apps (WeChat, Grab, sometimes even WhatsApp or Instagram depending on the period), but not Facebook, X, or Wikipedia. At the same time, many circumvention tools have been targeted: well‑known VPNs (TunnelBear, ProtonVPN, Hide.me) have been massively blocked, as well as proxies or anonymization services.
> An internet user in Yangon can still access their Gmail, some international news sites, or local services, while being denied Facebook or Signal without a VPN. In more rural or conflict‑affected areas, the internet is simply cut off for weeks.
> Result: a highly variable online experience
### VPNs: indispensable but legally risky
In this context, VPNs have become the key tool to bypass censorship and encrypt connections. They allow you to:
– hide the Myanmar IP address;
– connect via servers in more open countries;
– access blocked platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, international media);
– partially obscure surveillance.
Dozens of services have been tested for this purpose. Reviews converge on a few major references for Myanmar, notably NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, PureVPN, ProtonVPN, CyberGhost, or more specialized solutions like Psiphon or UFO VPN, which rely on obfuscation protocols to evade automatic blocks.
Performance tests show, for example, that NordVPN regularly exceeds 200 Mbps on US servers, with excellent security and privacy ratings, while ExpressVPN stands out for its ability to maintain strong encryption and persistent obfuscation across its entire network (over 3,000 servers in more than 90 countries). Surfshark, for its part, offers unlimited connections per subscription, with a “Camouflage” mode and a “NoBorders” feature designed for heavily censored environments like Myanmar.
However, it’s not all about technology. A new legal framework has complicated matters.
The cybersecurity law that came into effect in 2025 defines VPNs as backup network systems and primarily targets providers of these services: lack of license = heavy fines (up to several million kyats, or more for businesses) and confiscation of revenue. In theory, the text does not explicitly criminalize the end user, but on the ground, security forces conduct phone checks and treat VPN use as an offense. Random searches have been documented in Yangon, Mandalay, and Myitkyina, with extortion and threats involved.
More broadly, the same law requires user data to be stored for three years by digital service providers, allows account suspension or equipment seizure at the authorities’ request, and is part of a wider arsenal that permits arrests for “false news” or online content deemed destabilizing, with penalties of up to three years in prison.
### VPNs and security: some numerical benchmarks
Several comparisons have noted the relative qualities of the main VPNs usable (when they themselves aren’t blocked) for access from Myanmar:
| Service | Overall score (out of 10 or equivalent) | Key strengths |
|—|—|—|
| NordVPN | 9.4 / 10 (or 4.8/5 depending on source) | Very fast, strong encryption, obfuscation, large network |
| ExpressVPN | 7.8 / 10 (or 4.7/5) | Systematic obfuscation, global servers, reliability |
| Surfshark | ~4.6/5 | Affordable, unlimited connections, numerous servers |
| PureVPN | 7.8 / 10 | Good speeds, widespread obfuscation, 10 devices |
| Proton VPN | ~4.5/5 | Privacy focus, many servers, stealth protocol |
| CyberGhost | — (good overall feedback) | Ease of use, dedicated streaming servers |
These figures should not be taken as a guarantee (performance can vary greatly depending on network, region, and time), but they give an order of magnitude regarding the technical capabilities of these solutions to provide stable access to the services you need to communicate.
### Using a VPN without multiplying risks
In practice, for someone who just wants to talk to family from a hotel room or apartment in Yangon, there are some common‑sense rules:
Pre‑install the VPN before entering the country, as provider websites are often blocked. Limit its use to what’s strictly necessary (occasional video calls, sending important messages) rather than staying connected all the time. Always activate security features like kill switch, obfuscation, secure DNS, and double VPN if available. Avoid displaying the app openly during checks, or even temporarily uninstall it during sensitive travel. Finally, be wary of free VPNs, which lack stealth modes, are easily detectable, and may collect your data.
Important reminder: this article describes observed practices; it does not constitute legal advice. Everyone must balance the need for contact against an acceptable level of risk.
## Secure messaging, apps, and degraded modes
Even when internet access is possible, the question isn’t just “can I connect?” but also: “how can I communicate without unnecessarily exposing my loved ones and myself?”
### Signal, Wire, Telegram, WhatsApp: who does what?
Worldwide, Signal has become the benchmark for encrypted messaging. The app is free, open source, and uses an end‑to‑end encryption protocol that protects not only content but also many metadata. It works on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, handles private messages, groups (up to 1,000 members), audio and video calls (up to 8 people), stickers, files, etc. Messages can be set to disappear automatically after a set time.
In Myanmar, Signal—which became popular after the blocking of Facebook Messenger due to its hard‑to‑intercept channel—was explicitly targeted by authorities in summer 2026. The app became unavailable without a VPN, despite attempts at circumvention through advanced settings. Developers have been contacted by digital rights organizations, but using Signal without a VPN remains highly uncertain.
Wire is another interesting option, less well‑known but powerful: it uses encryption comparable to Signal’s, works on all major platforms, and—crucially—allows you to create an account without a phone number, enhancing anonymity. It handles group video calls (up to 12 people) and audio (up to 25).
Comparison of encryption features and usage constraints for Telegram and WhatsApp, especially in restrictive contexts.
Only “secret chats” have end‑to‑end encryption. Regular groups and ordinary conversations are not protected in the same way.
Although encryption is widespread, it belongs to Meta, raising questions about metadata collection and the evolution of its privacy policy.
In some countries, like Myanmar, these apps are frequently blocked by authorities, making their use impossible without a VPN.
### When there’s no network: mesh and encrypted SMS
The major challenge in conflict zones is sometimes even simpler: there’s no data at all. In these situations, some communities and activists use offline solutions that at least allow local communication.
Briar is one of them: designed for activists and journalists, it creates an encrypted messaging network between Android devices, using either the internet, Bluetooth, or Wi‑Fi Direct when the network is down. Its range is limited (a few dozen meters for Bluetooth, more for Wi‑Fi), but it allows organizing private groups and public forums within a restricted area (a neighborhood, a protest, a camp).
Bridgefy uses a mesh network where connected devices relay messages to extend range. For example, two phones 100 meters apart can communicate if a third device between them acts as a relay. This app saw massive adoption, with over one million downloads in Myanmar after the coup, having already proven useful during protests in Hong Kong.
Finally, the Silence app allows encrypting regular SMS and MMS, provided both sender and recipient install it. It doesn’t prevent metadata tracking (who exchanges with whom, when), but it protects the content itself. It’s no longer available on the Play Store and its technical maintenance is in question, but the principle remains useful: encrypt communications even when you only have GSM network.
These solutions won’t replace an international video call with family, but they show that it’s still possible to maintain a minimum of connection, coordination, and information sharing even in the event of a complete blackout.
## Satellite internet, Starlink cafés, and local workarounds
In the most cut‑off areas, the only way to “surface” back onto the global network is sometimes through the sky.
### Starlink and other satellite solutions
Anti‑junta forces, independent media, and NGOs have set up internet access points via Starlink in over 60 locations in the Sagaing, Magway, Karenni, and Kachin regions. These flat antennas, connected to SpaceX’s satellite network, offer relatively stable high‑speed access, immune to the shutdowns imposed on terrestrial networks.
But the widespread adoption of this type of solution faces several obstacles:
Using Starlink in Myanmar is illegal without a junta license, exposing users to prosecution. Importing terminals via countries like Thailand is complex and risky due to police operations. Finally, its high cost is prohibitive for a large part of the population living in poverty.
Despite everything, “Starlink cafés” have emerged, notably in Karenni State: places where you pay for access a few hours a day (e.g., 1,000 kyats per session) to connect, send news, upload photos, or attend an online meeting. Frequent power outages often limit opening hours to just a few hours daily.
Satellite technologies, including older systems like Thuraya IP+ or ZOLEO devices, are subject to regulatory constraints. Any satellite phone or terminal must be declared and obtain an official license. Failure to comply is punishable by sanctions.
### Makeshift antennas and reinvented phone booths
Unable to completely bypass censorship and shutdowns, some people find ways to “stretch” the few signals available. In the town of Ponnagyun, Rakhine State, an entrepreneur installed phone booths powered by bamboo antennas planted over ten meters high to capture the remaining scraps of mobile network. Locals pay a few kyats per minute to make calls, thus maintaining a link with loved ones who may be displaced or refugees elsewhere.
This kind of initiative illustrates a key point: in Myanmar, staying in touch sometimes relies more on community ingenuity than on cutting‑edge technology.
## When the internet isn’t enough: mail, parcels, and international voice
Even when you have online access, it can be useful to combine channels, for practical, emotional, and security reasons.
### Myanmar Post and international shipments
Myanmar Post remains the universal postal service provider, with a network of offices covering cities and rural areas. In recent years, particularly with support from Japanese cooperation, the company has modernized its operations: new network plans, route optimization, improved sorting, reduced delivery times. According to a project completed in 2019, the correct mail delivery rate in pilot areas reached 98–99%, with customer satisfaction above 80%.
Today, Myanmar Post offers a range of services:
– ordinary and registered mail (domestic and international);
– ordinary and express parcels;
– money orders and transfers (including electronic);
– e‑commerce‑dedicated services (ePost: delivery + cash collection);
– logistics solutions with private partners (Express, “smart box” lockers, home collection agents, etc.).
International shipments transit via SingPost, serving about a hundred countries. Note that M‑Bag press bags are no longer available since January 1, 2026, for many destinations, including Myanmar. It is essential to check taxation thresholds and customs rules (food products, alcohol, plants) before any shipment to or from Myanmar.
To maintain emotional ties with loved ones, postcards, handwritten letters, small gifts, or printed photo albums remain meaningful, especially for older people who may not be comfortable with digital tools. It takes more time and involves paperwork, but these shipments partly escape immediate digital control, even if mail can also be surveilled.
### Low‑cost international calls: talking without blowing your budget
When the internet is available but unstable, or when loved ones aren’t comfortable with messaging apps, low‑cost international call services can be very helpful. Several platforms offer far better rates than traditional operators.
For reference, here are some sample rates for calling Myanmar. These rates are subject to change and may vary by operator and plan.
| Service / internal destination | Approximate rate (USD/min) | Minutes for $10 (indicative) |
|—|—|—|
| BOSS Revolution – Myanmar landline | 0.099 | 101 |
| BOSS Revolution – Myanmar mobile MPT | 0.089 | 112 |
| BOSS Revolution – Myanmar mobile Ooredoo / Telenor | 0.147 | 68 |
| BOSS Revolution – other mobiles | 0.079 | 127 |
| Yolla – Myanmar (starting from) | 0.145 | ~69 |
| “Calling card” type service – best rates | 0.16–0.169 | 59–62 |
| International SMS to Myanmar (some services) | 0.27 | 37 SMS for $10 |
These apps work on a simple principle: the user installs the app (Android or iOS), creates an account, adds credit (often from $5), and then calls Myanmar numbers via the platform’s VoIP network. The recipient doesn’t need to install anything or have internet; they receive the call on their regular landline or mobile.
Some advantages:
– rates much lower than roaming or direct calls from Myanmar;
– no contract or commitment: you only pay for what you use;
– ability to see the exact rate before making the call, with no hidden fees.
On the flip side, these services require a decent internet connection on the caller’s side, and a functioning telephone infrastructure on the Myanmar side. In a context of local shutdowns or deliberate degradation of network quality, reliability can vary. Hence the value of having multiple solutions in parallel: VoIP, but also WhatsApp or Signal when VPNs work, and regular GSM calls if everything else fails.
## Protecting your loved ones and yourself: minimum digital security
Staying in touch isn’t just about “successfully getting a message through”; it’s also about making sure not to turn every call, SMS, or email into a source of danger for those on the ground.
### Mass and targeted surveillance
The Myanmar regime doesn’t just cut the internet. It has invested in sophisticated tools to monitor traffic and communications:
– secure gateway systems capable of analyzing tens of millions of TCP connections in real time;
– “Safe City” surveillance cameras supplied by Chinese companies, already used in repressive contexts (Xinjiang);
– data extraction software for phones, interception equipment, and cooperation with foreign companies to strengthen filtering and traffic analysis.
Number of people imprisoned between 2022 and end of 2025 for their activity on social networks, according to NGO reports.
### Best practices for communicating with loved ones in Myanmar
In this context, a few basic principles can reduce risks:
To protect your exchanges, prioritize end‑to‑end encrypted apps (Signal, Wire, or WhatsApp for some uses) over SMS or Messenger. Strictly limit the sharing of sensitive information: avoid full names, addresses, meeting places, details about participation in protests or affiliation with movements. Enable disappearing message features when available. Avoid sending large sensitive files (protest photos, political documents) without encrypting them first with dedicated tools like Tella or VeraCrypt. Regularly update your apps and systems to apply security patches. Use a password manager (KeePassXC, KeePassDX, KeePassium) to avoid reusing vulnerable passwords. Finally, discuss with your family the acceptable level of risk, finding a balance between security and ease of use according to everyone’s preferences.
Finally, it’s important to remember that absolute anonymity does not exist: even VPNs and encrypted messaging can be vulnerable against a determined state with extensive technical and legal means. Caution doesn’t guarantee immunity, but it reduces exposure.
## Keeping the bond alive despite distance and disruptions
Beyond pure technology, staying in touch with loved ones from or with Myanmar also raises human questions: how to maintain a relationship when talking time is scarce, conversations sometimes have to be filtered, and each person lives in a very different information universe?
Digital tools enable a lot: regular video calls to show daily life, family groups on encrypted apps, exchanging photos, password‑protected personal blogs, longer emails to share experiences, parcels or letters to mark holidays or birthdays.
The frequency of exchanges may decrease due to internet blackouts, VPN blocks, or electricity restrictions, regardless of the people’s intentions.
In these circumstances, planning regular contact windows when possible, and setting up “Plan Bs” in advance (e.g., switching from Signal video to a simple GSM call if data goes down, or to postal mail if the person moves to an area without network) can help reduce the feeling of disconnection.
## Conclusion: a mosaic of solutions, never perfect but still possible
Staying in touch with loved ones from Myanmar in 2026 means accepting a landscape of extreme contrasts: on one hand, a booming mobile and logistics infrastructure, modernized postal services, high‑level encrypted apps, satellites that allow escaping terrestrial control; on the other, a regime that cuts the internet in dozens of townships, criminalizes certain uses, monitors social networks, and tries to build a closed internet under its control.
In this context, there is no miracle solution, but a mosaic of complementary means:
A selection of methods and technologies to maintain contact in environments where traditional communications are restricted, censored, or unreliable.
Using local SIM cards and traditional voice/SMS services when they are available and secure.
Using robust VPNs sparingly and cautiously to cross digital barriers and access information.
Choosing encrypted messaging apps suited to the risk level and technical skills of the interlocutors.
Using tools independent of the internet: mesh networks, encrypted SMS, radio, improvised phone booths, or postal mail for isolated areas.
Using budget international call services to communicate when the internet connection is too fragile or expensive.
The key, for those inside as well as those outside, lies in flexibility: knowing how to switch from one channel to another, multiplying backup plans, accepting periods of silence without interpreting them as emotional disengagement, and continuing to seek ways—even modest ones—to tell your loved ones: “I’m here, I’m thinking of you.”
In a Myanmar where access to information has become a battlefield, every message that crosses shutdowns and censorship remains, in its own way, an act of connection and sometimes resistance.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
