The protests, which erupted recently in response to soaring prices and economic difficulties, have spread throughout all 31 provinces. Initially, Iran severed internet access via cables and mobile networks, which persisted for more than three and a half days.
As the protests
intensified, activists began utilizing Starlink to circumvent government restrictions.
Iran has escalated its internet suppression efforts by deploying military jammers to target Starlink, significantly hindering the ability of protesters to remain online. Starlink has served as a crucial alternative for protesters and activists when traditional networks are disabled.
Despite reports suggesting that tens of thousands of Starlink units are operating within the country, initial findings indicate that around 30% of Starlink traffic faced disruption, swiftly escalating to over 80%.
Reports suggest that the costly jamming technology was likely sourced from Russia or China.
Starlink operates through a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites approximately 550 km above ground terminals and relies on GPS signals to determine the location of ground stations and sustain satellite connections. Jamming or interfering with GPS signals near the terminals can disrupt service.
The system’s architecture features antennas that receive signals from a broad angle to track moving satellites, rendering it susceptible to ground-level jamming. Russian forces have also encountered difficulties in completely obstructing Starlink in Ukraine.
While the exact method of disrupting Starlink’s service in Iran remains unclear, some experts suggest the interference might stem from jamming Starlink terminals, overpowering their capability to receive signals from satellites, as reported by The Times of Israel.
Arina Moradi, a representative of the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, remarked, “Historically, whenever they cut the internet, it’s primarily to exert as much control as possible through violence.”
Iran has a track record of disabling the internet during protests, previously restricting access during demonstrations in 2019, 2022, and amid the July Iran–Israel conflict in 2025.
“Technology has evolved. What once required manual steps in 2019 to gradually disconnect networks has now been automated,” stated Alp Toker, a London-based founder. In addition to internet access, Iran has also limited phone and landline services.
The ongoing protests have resulted in over 500 fatalities and more than 10,600 arrests. The demonstrations began last December with citizens taking to the streets against rampant inflation, a plummeting currency, and economic turmoil—all exacerbated by stringent US sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
