The Iranian government has further extended its nationwide communication blackout, which began on the evening of January 8, 2026, by cutting access to satellite internet services from Starlink. The regime purportedly deployed a military-grade jamming technology.
Communication Blackout
Iranians have reportedly turned to Starlink to get back online after their government cut off all internet and phone communications.
However, speaking with TechRadar, Amiri Rashidi, the Director of Internet Security and Digital Rights at the Miaan Group, a nonprofit organization working with human rights in Iran, noticed substantial degradation in the network performance of Starlink.
The process likely involved the use of an advanced jamming technology that targets the specific high-frequency signals used by SpaceX.
It is unclear how Iran got a hold of relevant tech to take down access to Starlink, but it should be noted that researchers in China, a known ally of the Iranian regime, have been running experiments on how to effectively disrupt satellite communications.
Simon Migliano, an expert in network communications, estimated that the process is draining 1.56 million U.S. dollars from the Iranian economy every hour.
Anti-Government Protests
The decision to cut internet and phone access in Iran was a response to massive anti-government protests across the country. Observers noted that the communication blackout was intended to prevent protesters from organizing and censoring the ongoing violence.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on 11 January 2026 that he will talk to billionaire and SpaceX owner Elon Musk about restoring internet access in Iran.
The massive protest in Iran is driven by the ongoing economic crisis. The general public has grown tired of the regime. Adding to their disappointment is the fact that the Iranian government has been using public money to fund its proxy wars across the Middle East.
Several media reports have noted that the death toll in Iran is rising. The Attorney General of Iran has also threatened protestors with the death penalty.
FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES
- Castro, C. 9 January 2026. “I Have Never Seen Such a Thing in My Life – Iran Completely Shuts Down the Internet Amid Protests, Starlink Also Affected.” TechRadar. Available online
- Chen, S. 23 November 2025. “Chinese Researchers Simulate Large-Scale Electronic Warfare Against Elon Musk’s Starlink.” South China Morning Post. Available online
- Levy, R. 12 January 2026. “Trump Says He Will Talk To Musk About Restoring Internet in Iran.” Reuters. Available online
- Migliano, S. 5 January 2026. “The Cost of Internet Shutdowns.” com. Available online