TL;DR
Iran cut off the country's internet late Thursday, disconnecting roughly 85 million people, and independent reports indicate Starlink satellite receivers are experiencing significant disruptions. Experts say Iran may be using measures beyond GPS jamming to degrade Starlink connectivity as authorities seek to limit reporting on nationwide protests.
What happened
Just after 8 p.m. on Thursday, Iranian authorities severed internet and telephone links that connect the country’s roughly 85 million residents to the outside world. The shutdown follows earlier nationwide blackouts in 2019 and 2022. In the current disruptions, observers say satellite internet traffic carried by Starlink receivers — which are illegal to possess or use in Iran — has shown marked packet loss: around a 30% drop on average, and in some areas as much as 80%. Since a 12-day conflict with Israel last June, Iran has been interfering with GPS signals; analysts now say the regime appears to be doing more than GPS jamming and may be deploying mobile jammers or other measures to disrupt satellite receivers. The International Telecommunication Union has previously pressed Iran over jamming, and Tehran has sought to persuade the ITU to stop Starlink services to the country. The blackout and satellite interference have limited the flow of videos and eyewitness reporting from protests unfolding across Iran.
Why it matters
- Cuts to internet access and targeted disruption of satellite links curb the flow of independent information from inside Iran.
- Widespread interference with Starlink could constrain a tool protesters and diaspora communities rely on to share images and accounts internationally.
- Targeting of satellite receivers raises risks for civilians who possess illegal equipment amid a tense security environment.
- State-driven jamming of global communications systems sets a precedent with implications for cross-border access to satellite internet services.
Key facts
- Iran’s authorities pulled major internet and phone connections just after 8 p.m. on Thursday, disconnecting about 85 million people from the global internet.
- This is the third nationwide shutdown recorded in Iran, following major blackouts in 2019 and 2022.
- Starlink service is not authorized in Iran; possession and use of receivers are illegal under Iranian rules.
- An Iranian official estimated tens of thousands of Starlink receivers were in the country about a year ago.
- Since a 12-day conflict with Israel last June, Iran has interfered with GPS signals; analysts say disruptions to Starlink now appear to go beyond GPS jamming.
- Observers reported roughly a 30% average packet loss on Starlink devices after the latest blackout, with localized losses reported up to 80%.
- The International Telecommunication Union has previously urged Iran to stop jamming signals; Iran has lobbied at the ITU for Starlink to be blocked to the country.
- Legal and security risks for users are heightened: state warnings and penalties for protesters have included references to death-penalty charges for certain actions.
What to watch next
- Monitor changes in Starlink packet loss and regional connectivity reports inside Iran; experts have already reported ~30% average packet loss and up to 80% in some areas.
- not confirmed in the source: whether SpaceX/Starlink will take technical or public steps to counter alleged jamming or to assist users in Iran.
- not confirmed in the source: whether international bodies or governments will impose new measures or offer technical assistance to restore communications for Iranians.
Quick glossary
- Starlink: A satellite internet service operated by SpaceX that uses a constellation of low-earth-orbit satellites to provide broadband connectivity.
- GPS jamming: Intentional interference with Global Positioning System signals, which can disrupt positioning services used by devices and some satellite communications.
- Internet blackout: A deliberate or accidental shutdown of internet and telecommunications infrastructure that prevents users from accessing online services or communicating externally.
- Packet loss: The failure of data units (packets) to reach their destination across a network, which degrades performance and can disrupt communications.
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU): A United Nations agency responsible for coordinating global telecommunications standards and policies.
Reader FAQ
Is Starlink officially allowed to operate in Iran?
No — the source says Starlink has never been authorized in Iran and possession or use of receivers is illegal.
Is Iran definitively jamming Starlink?
Experts cited in the source report significant Starlink packet loss and say Iran appears to be doing more than GPS jamming, but exact technical methods are not fully confirmed in the source.
How many people were affected by the blackout?
The report says roughly 85 million people in Iran were disconnected from the global internet when authorities pulled major communications links.
Have previous blackouts in Iran been deadly?
The source notes mass shutdowns in 2019 and 2022; it reports about 300 people reportedly killed after the 2019 blackout and more than 500 killed during the 2022 protests linked to Mahsa Amini’s death.
ADVERTISEMENT Homepage As Iranian regime shuts down internet, even Starlink seemingly being jammed Receivers for satellite service face connectivity challenges, with an expert reporting that the Islamic Republic seems to…
Sources
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