TL;DR
Iran experienced a roughly 120-hour cut to internet services; international voice calls have begun working again while data access remains blocked. The original poster on Hacker News asked for durable, ISP-independent communication options; respondents suggested low-tech phone trees and using runners alongside burner phones.
What happened
Reports indicate Iran has been subject to an internet shutdown lasting about 120 hours (five days). During that period data services were blocked, preventing normal internet-based messaging and online coordination. At the time of the thread, international phone calls had started to function again, but data channels remained unavailable. The Hacker News post asked for technical approaches to build resilient, long-term communications that do not depend on local internet service providers, naming peer-to-peer messaging, mesh networking, and satellite-based options as areas of interest. Commenters offered practical experience from nontechnical systems: organizing phone trees for cascading voice notifications, combining brief burner-phone calls with physical runners to spread information on the ground, and segmenting calling lists by surname or region to distribute the workload. No detailed, verified rollouts of alternative networks were described in the source.
Why it matters
- Extended internet outages disrupt information flow, making coordination and safety communication more difficult for communities and organizers.
- When data services are blocked but voice calls return, people may still lack access to richer messaging, maps, and verification tools tied to the internet.
- Dependence on local ISPs creates a single point of failure for digital communications; alternative layers can increase resilience.
- Low-tech solutions can be implemented quickly and do not require specialized infrastructure, which matters during abrupt shutdowns.
Key facts
- The internet shutdown in Iran lasted about 120 hours (five days).
- International phone calls began functioning again while data services remained blocked.
- The Hacker News post asked for options that bypass local ISP infrastructure, including P2P messaging, mesh networks, and satellite solutions.
- Commenters recommended traditional phone trees as a reliable method for disseminating information by voice.
- One suggested practice was to split calling lists (for example by last name ranges) so each caller covers a subset of contacts.
- Combining brief burner-phone calls with physical runners to pass messages on the ground was offered as a practical approach.
- No comprehensive technical deployments or validated satellite or mesh network solutions were documented in the source.
- Specific technical guidance, vendor recommendations, or verified performance data were not provided in the thread.
What to watch next
- Whether full mobile and fixed-data service is restored across the country — not confirmed in the source.
- Adoption or public reporting of peer-to-peer, mesh, or satellite communication tools in the affected areas — not confirmed in the source.
- Any community-led rollouts of documented, tested offline communication plans beyond informal phone trees and runners — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Phone tree: A hierarchical voice-calling plan where each person calls a small set of contacts to rapidly spread information without relying on internet data.
- Mesh network: A decentralized network topology in which devices connect directly to nearby peers to pass messages across multiple nodes without central infrastructure.
- Peer-to-peer messaging: Communication that occurs directly between users' devices rather than routing through centralized servers, reducing dependence on ISP infrastructure.
- Satellite communication: Use of satellites to provide voice or data links, which can bypass local terrestrial networks but typically requires compatible hardware or services.
- Burner phone: A disposable or secondary mobile phone used for short-term, low-profile voice and text communication.
Reader FAQ
Are international phone calls currently available?
According to the thread, international calls had started working again.
Is mobile data or internet service restored?
Data services were reported to remain blocked at the time of the discussion.
What immediate options were suggested for resilient communication?
Commenters recommended phone trees, using burner phones, and combining brief calls with physical runners to share information on the ground.
Are there verified technical P2P or satellite solutions already in use there?
Not confirmed in the source.
Old fashioned phone trees can be really useful IMHO OP. We used them when I worked in a school. If there was winter weather, you'd call say, everyone with a…
Sources
- Ask HN: Iran's 120h internet shutdown, phones back. How to stay resilient?
- Iranians able to make some calls abroad as internet …
- Iranians able to make some calls abroad while internet …
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