Some Iranians continue to access Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet network despite a sweeping nationwide blackout imposed by authorities, three people inside the country told Reuters. The reports highlight how Starlink has once again become a lifeline for communication in regions facing state-imposed shutdowns.
Iran’s government has launched a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, which has included cutting off internet access provided through fibre-optic cables and mobile networks. However, because Starlink transmits data directly from thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit, it remains partially functional in several areas.
Three users in Iran said the system is still working, particularly in western regions and border towns. “Dozens of people here are using Starlink,” one user said, noting that access appeared largely unaffected outside major urban centres.
Patchy But Persistent Connectivity
Alp Toker, founder of the internet monitoring group NetBlocks, confirmed receiving reports of limited Starlink availability in Iran. “It is patchy, but still there,” he said. According to NetBlocks data, traditional fixed-line and mobile connectivity in Iran was operating at just 1% of normal levels as of Monday, amid one of the country’s most extensive blackouts since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
It remains unclear how Iranian authorities are attempting to restrict satellite connections. Specialists believe jamming signals may be interfering with Starlink terminals, reducing their ability to receive data from orbiting satellites.
Starlink, owned by Musk’s U.S.-based company SpaceX, did not comment on the situation. Iranian officials, who have blamed the protests on “terrorists,” could not be reached due to ongoing communication outages.
Starlink’s Growing Role in Global Crises
Starlink’s resilience in Iran underscores its expanding influence in global conflict zones. The service has already been used in several crises from helping Ukrainian forces maintain communications during Russia’s invasion, to supporting humanitarian operations in Myanmar and Sudan amid severe internet restrictions.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he plans to speak with Musk about restoring internet access in Iran, without directly naming Starlink. Musk previously supplied Ukraine with thousands of Starlink terminals, initially providing free connectivity.
Standard Starlink terminals cost around $599, plus a monthly service fee a price that puts them out of reach for many Iranians. Nevertheless, a limited number of devices have reportedly been smuggled into the country and shared among users.
Banned but Still Active
Although Starlink has never been licensed to operate in Iran, Musk said in late 2022 that the service was active in the country. At the time, he noted that nearly 100 terminals were operational — a small number relative to Iran’s population of 92 million.
In June last year, after a 12-day war between Iran and Israel, Tehran’s parliament passed a law banning Starlink outright, imposing severe penalties for those caught using or distributing the unapproved technology. Despite the restrictions, Starlink terminals remain in use among protesters, activists, and residents in remote areas.
Musk has repeatedly claimed that “beams are on” over Iran, suggesting the network continues to provide at least limited coverage. The persistence of Starlink access has become another flashpoint in the standoff between Iran’s authoritarian control over information and the global technology networks that seek to defy it.
with inputs from Reuters
