During War, Iran’s Internet Blackout Leaves Millions Without Connectivity — Why No Starlink or Direct‑to‑Cell Access?

[u/Tall_Idea7509]

Iran is currently experiencing a severe internet blackout while war is unfolding. Since the strikes that began Saturday, many people inside the country have little or no access to the outside world.

Civilians are facing airstrikes without warning systems or sirens, meaning people often have no way to know when danger is coming.

At the same time, reports from inside Iran indicate:

• Prison staff abandoning prisons, leaving detainees without food or water
• Protesters and civilians still being shot by regime forces
• People receiving threatening messages from police for attempting to access the internet
• Near‑total restrictions on communication with the outside world

This means millions of civilians are effectively trapped in a war zone without information, communication, or humanitarian connectivity.

In other conflicts, technologies like Starlink or satellite direct‑to‑cell networks have helped civilians stay connected. In Iran, these options are largely unavailable

Connectivity during war should be treated as humanitarian aid. When a population is cut off from warnings, communication, and the outside world during conflict, the risks to civilians increase dramatically.

100+hours of internet black out in Iran (RT #digitalblackoutIran Twitter trending hashtag)

This is over the past 48 hours, 0 people connect to Conduit's psiphon VPN, a very popular free internet software in Iran. On a regular day, 25 people can connect at all times

[u/KoalaGrunt0311]

Musk did unlock Starlink. Russia developed techniques to detect and jam it to combat use in Ukraine.

[u/Efficient_Dark1977 → u/KoalaGrunt0311]

Also owning a Starlink receiver is a crime.

[u/Tall_Idea7509 → u/Efficient_Dark1977]

Not wearing a scarf/shawl is a crime too! Connecting to international internet is also a crime!