We have received an important update from one of our upstream providers: Myanmar’s telecom operator Mytel has announced that the Myanmar government will soon introduce an international network firewall between domestic networks and the global internet. This new firewall will serve as a traffic control and filtering mechanism.
According to Local ISP, all international traffic — including inbound and outbound connections — will be subject to the new firewall rules. For organizations using Mytel’s network to connect from other countries back to Myanmar (e.g., for content retrieval, data transfer, or remote services), IP addresses must be submitted for whitelisting through the government in order to maintain uninterrupted connectivity.
Whitelisting Requirements
Mytel has stated that network operators and enterprises must provide the IP address ranges they use so that the government can approve them for firewall whitelist access.
- IPs not on the whitelist: Risk of connection interruptions, increased packet loss, or higher latency once the firewall is active.
- IPs on the whitelist: Permitted to communicate through the firewall without restrictions.
Potential Impact
- International Backhaul & Content Retrieval
Businesses relying on Mytel for backhaul connections from overseas nodes to Myanmar may face disruptions if IPs are not whitelisted. - Cross-Border Applications & Services
Services such as VPNs, CDNs, cloud platforms, and remote work tools may experience degraded performance or loss of connectivity. - Increased Operational Overhead
Companies will need to maintain accurate IP resource lists and update them regularly to comply with firewall policy changes.
Recommendations
- Audit Your IP Assets: Identify all origin and return-path IP addresses used in Mytel-related traffic.
- Coordinate with Providers: Work with your upstream or hosting partners to submit whitelist requests promptly.
- Plan for Redundancy: Consider alternate routing options, multi-ISP setups, or regional redundancy to mitigate risks from a single restricted route.
Industry Insight
This move aligns with a broader trend in the region where governments are tightening control over cross-border internet traffic. Similar measures have been observed in neighboring countries, affecting the deployment and operation of cloud services, CDNs, and cross-border platforms. For enterprises operating in Southeast Asia, staying ahead of regulatory and policy shifts will be crucial for maintaining stable network performance and compliance.