Is Starlink helping Iranians break internet blackout, and how does it work?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete January 14, 2026 at 08:45 PM
Is Starlink helping Iranians break internet blackout, and how does it work?

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Amidst widespread anti-government protests and internet blackouts in Iran, Elon Musk's Starlink is reportedly providing free service to users. This service allows Iranians to bypass government restrictions and share information about the protests with the outside world. Thousands of Starlink terminals have been smuggled into Iran since 2022, following US authorization for tech companies to bypass sanctions and sell communication tools to Iranians. While Starlink lacks a license to operate in Iran, its service has been crucial in disseminating information, including details about the protest's death toll. However, Iran is attempting to jam Starlink signals, and the legality of Starlink's operations remains uncertain.

Keywords

starlink 100% iran 90% internet blackout 80% protests 80% elon musk 70% satellite communication 60% censorship 50% mahsa amini 40% sanctions 40%

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Al Jazeera
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90%
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Barcelona

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