Lessons Learned from My Self-Hosting Experience in Myanmar
About thirteen years ago, when I moved to Yangon from the Irrawaddy Delta region, the internet revolution was slowly taking shape. It was the golden era of Blogger, and the Blogspot movement helped many non-tech people like me in Myanmar express their thoughts and experiences on a globally connected platform.
Later on, I discovered WordPress.com and began creating blogs—for myself, for friends, and even for frenemies. As WordPress grew more popular, I read a few tutorials and eventually ventured into setting up self-hosted WordPress sites. That’s how my journey into hosting began.
At the time, I used cheap and often unreliable shared hosting services. Over the years, I encountered countless problems—some technical, others circumstantial—but I kept learning. Without realizing it, I found myself slowly entering the web development industry. Server work eventually became part of my daily routine.
Why I Chose to Self-Host
In recent years, I read many blog posts and tutorials promoting the benefits of self-hosting. Most of them emphasized the control and independence it provides. I was convinced—self-host is cool.
So, I repurposed my Asus laptop into a server. It became a personal hub for:
- Communicating with other servers
- Collecting and processing data
- Running automated scripts
- Managing and delivering data across my devices and services (Google, Microsoft, etc.)
Indeed, self-hosting made me happy. I had full control over my environment and my tools. Technology had matured, and so had the 3As: Accessibility, Affordability, and Availability.
Then Reality Struck
This morning, I woke up late only to discover that my internet had gone down during the night. My scheduled scripts had failed, and nothing had worked as planned. I had to tether my laptop to my mobile phone just to continue working with my DIY server.
That moment forced me to reflect.
In developed countries, self-hosting is often practical, even encouraged. But in developing countries like Myanmar, it comes with serious challenges. Let me share what I’ve learned—hopefully, it will help you avoid similar pitfalls.
Key Challenges of Self-Hosting in Myanmar
Electricity
Power outages are common, especially during the dry season when hydropower systems cannot generate enough electricity.
While I run a solar energy company and manufacture backup power devices, I’ve come to realize that powering a DIY server 24/7 using backup systems (like portable power stations and solar setups) is not cost-effective—at least not for this use case.
Internet Stability
Myanmar’s internet is unstable. At times, the regime orders ISPs to shut down services or block specific websites altogether. This makes any self-hosting effort inherently fragile.
Poor ISP Service
ISPs in Myanmar face many of their own challenges. I empathize with them—they are trying to expand in difficult conditions.
However, customer support is extremely poor. Once they’ve collected payment, many treat the customer more like a burden than a client. Service hotlines are often unreachable or perpetually busy.
Other Infrastructure Issues
Some ISPs illegally use government-owned power lines to lay fiber, which means those cables are vulnerable. When authorities cut unauthorized lines, it’s the users—not the ISP—who suffer first.
Even nature plays a role. In my apartment, rodents once chewed through my internet cable. I lost connectivity for nearly 36 hours.
So, Is Self-Hosting Worth It in Myanmar?
My honest answer: think twice.
Self-hosting offers control, customization, and satisfaction. But in places with unstable electricity and internet infrastructure, it might not be worth the trouble—unless you are deeply technical and prepared for constant maintenance.
In many cases, using affordable external hosting services—like DigitalOcean, Linode, or local cloud providers—is more efficient and reliable.
Final Thought
Self-hosting taught me many valuable lessons. But it also reminded me of the importance of context. What works beautifully in one country may struggle in another. If you’re living in Myanmar or a similar environment, weigh your needs carefully. Technology is a tool—use it where it serves you best.
