Iran Tightens Internet Blackout as Security Forces Jam Starlink, Track Dishes

Overview

• Authorities severed access on Jan. 8 during nationwide protests, and NetBlocks estimates traffic is roughly 1% of normal levels.
• Experts detail GPS and frequency jamming targeting Starlink links, with drones used to locate antennas for confiscation or raids.
• Analysts say the effort builds on a decade of network centralization enabling street‑level shutdowns, and some suggest possible Russian‑sourced jamming support.
• CNN and activists report Starlink reactivated accounts in Iran and waived fees after a Trump–Musk conversation, though broad, sustained connectivity remains blocked.
• Starlink gear in Iran is estimated in the tens of thousands of terminals under harsh legal penalties, while reported death tolls from the crackdown vary widely across sources.