In Myanmar, 600,000 users download offline message app Bridgefy in hours after coup

The Mexico-based start-up tweeted that it hoped people in Myanmar would find its app ‘useful during tough times’

Bridgefy, which gained popularity during Hong Kong’s anti-government protests, is an app that lets users communicate via short-range Bluetooth connections

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People are seen at a market in Yangon on February 2, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:59pm, 2 Feb 2021Updated: 2:30am, 3 Feb 2021

Offline messaging app Bridgefy said it was downloaded more than 600,000 times in a few hours in Myanmar, after the country’s military seized power on Monday and temporarily disrupted internet traffic.

The Mexico-based start-up, which gained popularity during Hong Kong’s anti-government protests, tweeted that it hoped people in Myanmar would find its app “useful during tough times”.

After the country’s democratically elected leaders were arrested, phone and internet connections were disrupted in the main city Yangon and the capital Naypyidaw and some other parts of the country.

Communications had been restored by late Monday but, in social media posts seen by Reuters, activists in Myanmar encouraged the download of Bridgefy as a solution to possible further shutdowns.

Bridgefy, whose backers include Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and which has also been used at anti-government rallies in Thailand, is one of several apps based on Bluetooth that use mesh networks to allow users to communicate without internet connections.