Iranians remain in digital darkness, as the internet blockade imposed by the Iranian regime has entered its third week. According to Netblocks, this would be the “longest sustained nation-scale internet blackout” ever tracked, and one of the three longest in its records.
Iran Endures Third Week Of Internet Blockade: Connectivity Reaches Only Tens Of ThousandsThe Iranian regime has not loosened its control on digital communications since the start of the hostilities with the U.S.-Israel coalition, and now the internet blockade has reached its third week.
Netblocks, an internet observatory that has monitored the situation shortly after the first airstrikes, stated that internet users are being forced into the National Information Network. This controlled, ID-vetted intranet only allows access to sites approved by the Iranian government.
As users seek to sidestep these controls, the Iranian regime is also strengthening its oversight of devices like Starlink terminals, which are scarce and costly but available on black markets around the country.
Other options, like ordinary virtual private networks (VPNs), cannot surpass the Iranian digital wall, and the regime has whitelisted certain organizations to access the internet.
“Overall, the figure of those with some international access is understood to be in the thousands or low tens of thousands, primarily those who are pre-approved by the state, depending on the state of restrictions on a given day,” Toker concluded.
FAQ Why is Iran currently experiencing a massive internet blackout? The regime has forced users onto a state-controlled intranet for over three weeks amid ongoing hostilities with the U.S.-Israel coalition. How severe is the current internet shutdown in Iran? Internet monitor Netblocks reports this is the longest sustained nation-scale blackout ever tracked in a highly connected society. How is the government handling citizens using satellite internet? Iranian intelligence has seized hundreds of black-market Starlink terminals, warning that users face harsh criminal punishments. Can Iranians use VPNs to bypass the digital blockade? Ordinary VPNs are completely ineffective against the current firewall, leaving only a few thousand state-approved users with international access.
