Iran's internet blackout enters third week as filtered access flickers back

Iran’s sweeping internet blackout has reached its 16th day and ranks as one of the world’s most severe communications shutdowns on record, even as data suggests some services are coming back online sporadically, with Iranian authorities allowing limited and heavily filtered access while pushing out propaganda.

Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported on Jan. 23 that messaging apps and virtual private networks have become more widely available, potentially marking a slight shift after weeks of near-total disconnection. But the group warned that overall international connectivity remains extremely low amid signs that authorities are attempting to generate false traffic to help manufacture narratives of a wider restoration.

This communications cut, launched in response to a wave of anti-government protests, gave the regime cover to launch a deadly crackdown. Although the threat of an imminent US military intervention in Iran appears to have receded since last week, the situation remains tense as of this writing, with an American aircraft carrier strike group heading to the Middle East. 

What happened: Iran imposed a nationwide communications shutdown on Jan. 8 as protests over economic hardship spiraled into broader anti-government demonstrations. Fixed-line internet, mobile data and phone calls were cut across much of the country, severely hampering the flow of information.

As of Jan. 23, NetBlocks said Iran remained in a “national internet blackout” in its third week, with only a marginal rise in connectivity amid an observed spike in online propaganda activity.

“From Friday morning, the wider availability of messaging apps is confirmed and more VPN tunnels are connecting from Iran,” the group said. “However, service is heavily filtered and observable international connectivity remains low, indicating a ‘filternet plus’ configuration.” 

NetBlocks and other researchers cautioned against interpreting the changes as a meaningful restoration. Filterwatch, another digital rights group, noted that intermittent access for some users does not mean the internet has been reconnected.

Amid on-and-off access to the internet, videos of protests have been trickling out. As some Iranians have been able to briefly get online, they’ve been posting under the Persian term “وصل شدم” — meaning “I’m connected” — according to a post on X by Britain-based activist and cyber investigator Nariman Gharib.

Meanwhile, conflicting casualty figures highlight the blackout’s impact on verification. Iran’s Supreme Council of National Security said this week that 3,117 people were killed during the unrest, while the UN special rapporteur on Iran, Mai Sato, recently put the toll at at least 5,000. Other estimates put the number far higher.

Why it matters: The prolonged blackout represents a major evolution in Iran’s censorship playbook, with Tehran now appearing to be deploying more selective and sophisticated methods to squeeze connectivity than in years past. 

Rather than flipping the internet back on, authorities appear to be testing a model that allows limited communication, heavy filtering and regime-approved networks — an approach that could become the new normal going forward. Other authoritarian governments are likely watching closely.

Workarounds remain scarce, with most media attention focused on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service. News surfaced last week that SpaceX had waived subscription fees in Iran, allowing those with Starlink terminals free access. Estimates suggest there are more than 50,000 terminals inside the country via black markets. 

There are also reports that Iranian authorities have been targeting Starlink and hunting for those terminals. On Jan. 13, Filterwatch noted that Starlink in Iran had been subjected to intense jamming over the prior two days, primarily in Tehran, with the transmission of interference varying by the hour and neighborhood. Whether the regime can successfully clamp down on Starlink will mark a crucial test for the global reach of Musk’s satellite service. 

On Jan. 14, Reuters reported that France was looking into sending Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran to help citizens, but there has been no update since then. 

Know more: Bloomberg reported on Jan. 23 that Iran’s shutdown ensnared MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecom operator, which co-owns mobile operator Irancell. Earlier this week, news surfaced that authorities had ousted MTN Irancell’s CEO, Alireza Rafiei, accusing him of taking too long to comply with shutdown orders. 

Johannesburg-based MTN, a 49% owner of the Iranian mobile company, was reportedly blindsided by the move and is contacting the Irancell board to dispute the decision.