Iran Internet Blackout Amid Protests: Starlink Access Unclear

According to real-time data from internet infrastructure firm Cloudflare, network traffic in Iran plummeted to functionally non-existent levels beginning at 18:45 UTC on Thursday, equivalent to 10:15 p.m. local time. David Belson, Cloudflare’s head of data insight, confirmed the severity of the outage, stating, “Current internet usage in the region is basically non-existent” and that traffic “remains at that level.” This assessment was corroborated by independent monitoring group NetBlocks, which described the incident as a “nationwide blackout” leaving the country almost completely offline.

The technical data paints a stark picture of state-imposed digital isolation. NetBlocks reported the collapse occurred across multiple internet service providers, indicating a coordinated, top-down shutdown rather than a technical failure. This move effectively severs Iran’s 90 million people from the global internet, a drastic measure that monitoring groups warn will “severely limit coverage of events on the ground” as protests spread. The timing, coinciding with the peak of demonstrations, underscores the authorities’ intent to control the narrative and disrupt internal coordination.

The blackout is a direct response to a significant escalation in public demonstrations. The current wave of protests, which began in late December, is fundamentally driven by a collapsing economy. Key grievances include rampant inflation, the precipitous devaluation of the Iranian Rial, and soaring living costs that have eroded household purchasing power. These economic pressures have translated into widespread public anger, with protests now spreading across Tehran and multiple major cities.

This week, demonstrations intensified following online calls for mass action, including appeals from exiled figures such as Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. The protests have evolved beyond economic complaints, with demonstrators openly calling for the overthrow of the Islamic government and clashing with security forces. In response, Iranian authorities have issued warnings of a “harsh response” and blamed foreign actors for instigating the unrest, a narrative they reinforce by cutting digital links to the outside world.

A critical unknown in this blackout is whether alternative satellite internet services, specifically SpaceX’s Starlink, are accessible to bypass the state-imposed shutdown. Social media claims of Starlink access have circulated, but neither SpaceX nor its CEO, Elon Musk, has confirmed the service is currently active in Iran. This stands in contrast to a previous nationwide shutdown in June 2025, when Musk publicly confirmed activation, stating “the beams are on” after authorities cut access.

Iran has a established pattern of using internet blackouts as a tool of control during periods of civil unrest. This tactic serves a dual purpose: disrupting the real-time organization of protesters and limiting the flow of visual evidence and information to international observers. Musk and Starlink have previously provided connectivity in other conflict zones, including Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion and in Gaza in 2024 to support medical workers. The unconfirmed status of Starlink during the current Iranian blackout leaves a pivotal gap in potential communication channels for both citizens and journalists.

The financial and operational implications are significant. For Cloudflare, NetBlocks, and similar firms, these events validate the importance of global internet traffic monitoring. For the Iranian regime, the shutdown represents a costly but calculated trade-off, sacrificing digital economic activity and international connectivity for immediate state security. As independent data continues to show Iran almost entirely disconnected, the world watches to see if satellite technology will once again challenge a state’s ability to control its information borders during a crisis.