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Iran Escalates to GPS and Satellite Jamming, Crippling Starlink Connections

A nationwide shutdown since January 8 left Starlink as one of the few channels for images of the crackdown.

Overview

  • Human rights groups report hundreds of deaths during two weeks of protests, with limited footage leaving the country.
  • Starlink emerged as a primary workaround to the blackout, with several thousand Iranians reportedly purchasing roughly €300 kits to send videos abroad.
  • Authorities moved from GPS interference to directly jamming satellite communications, with disruption rising from about 30% in the morning to 80% by evening, according to IranWire.
  • Le Figaro reports officials are jamming GPS signals and the radio transmissions from Starlink terminals to satellites, making reconnection difficult.
  • A Secure World Foundation assessment highlights Russian systems such as Tobol and Kalinka as possible tools used for targeting, as Iran enforces a law criminalizing unlicensed satellite equipment with penalties of up to two years in prison.