By Zak Doffman,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Updated on Jan. 13 with new reports into Starlink restrictions and users being hunted down by the Iranian authorities, as well as Musk\u2019s offer of free connectivity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We have not seen this before. Iran\u2019s digital blackout has now deployed military jammers, reportedly supplied by Russia, to shut down access to Starlink Internet. This is a game-changer for the Plan-B connectivity frequently used by protesters and anti-regime activists when ordinary access to the internet is stopped..<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDespite reports that tens of thousands of Starlink units are operating inside Iran,\u201d says Iran Wire<\/em><\/a>, \u201cthe blackout has also reached satellite connections.\u201d It is reported that about 30 per cent of Starlink\u2019s uplink and downlink traffic was (initially) disrupted,” quickly rising \u201cto more than 80 per cent\u201d within hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Times of Israel<\/em><\/a> says \u201cthe deployment of (Starlink) receivers is now far greater in Iran\u201d than during previous blackouts. \u201cThat\u2019s despite the government never authorizing Starlink to function, making the service illegal to possess and use.\u201dForbesIran \u2018Hijacks\u2019 WhatsApp Accounts To Spy On \u2018Individuals Abroad\u2019By Zak Doffman<\/small><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n But Starlink receivers use GPS to locate and enable connections to satellites. \u201cSince its 12-day war with Israel last June,” The Times<\/em> says, \u201cIran has been disrupting GPS signals.\u201d That means shutdowns are localized, and has resulted in a patchwork quilt of Starlink connectivity, including near blackouts in some high-profile areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The localized Starlink Internet block has been confirmed by NetBlocks. Speaking to The Times<\/em><\/a> on Monday, the monitoring group\u2019s Alp Toker confirmed that access is being jammed, albeit coverage could still be found in some areas. \u201cIt is patchy, but still there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile it\u2019s not clear how Starlink\u2019s service was being disrupted in Iran,\u201d The Times<\/em> says, \u201csome specialists say it could be the result of jamming of Starlink terminals that would overpower their ability to receive signals from the satellites.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some commentators on social media have suggested a settings change may overcome some of the restrictions. Per Open Source Intel<\/a> on X, \u201cif you are in contact with anyone in Iran using Starlink, ask them to try enabling the \u2018use Starlink positioning exclusively\u2019 option under Advanced and then Debug Data in the Starlink app.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Multiple posts on social media<\/a> also suggest Russian military technology imported into Iran over recent months may be responsible for jamming GPS and other bearers. Channel 4 News<\/em><\/a> describes Russia\u2019s activities as a \u201ctechnological race with Starlink,\u201d which it says \u201cis known to deploy trucks which deploy radio noise to disrupt satellite signals.\u201d As yet there is no confirmation as to which technologies are deployed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the Miaan Group\u2019s Amir Rashidi told TechRadar<\/em><\/a> \u201cI have been monitoring and researching access to the internet for the past 20 years, and I have never seen such a thing in my life.\u201d Analyzing the sudden drop in Starlink data packets supports reports on the ground that satellite connectivity has been heavily affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simon Migliano, who has just compiled a comprehensive report<\/a> into recent internet shutdowns<\/a>, told me \u201cIran\u2019s current nationwide blackout is a blunt instrument intended to crush dissent,” and this comes at a stark cost to the country, underpinning the regime\u2019s desperation. \u201cThis ‘kill switch\u2019 approach comes at a staggering price, draining $1.56 million from Iran\u2019s economy every single hour the internet is down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to NetBlocks<\/a> on Monday P.M., \u201cIran has now been offline for 96 hours, limiting reporting and accountability over civilian deaths as Iranians protest and demand change; fixed-line internet, mobile data and calls are disabled, while other communication means are also increasingly being targeted.\u201d The monitoring group has reported that connectivity across Iran has now been reduced by as much as 99%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIranian authorities have proven they are prepared to weaponize connectivity, even at a tremendous domestic cost,” Migliano says. \u201cWe are looking at losses already exceeding $130 million. If the 2019 shutdown is any indicator, the regime could maintain this digital siege for days, prioritizing control over their own economic stability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIran jams Starlink, protesters\u2019 lifeline,\u201d The<\/em> Washington Post<\/em><\/a> said Tuesday P.M. \u201cTrump, Musk say that won\u2019t stand.\u201d According to The Post<\/em>, \u201cPresident Donald Trump has appealed to Elon Musk to help Iranian protesters circumvent a government-imposed internet blackout, underscoring the frontline role Musk\u2019s satellite company Starlink is playing in U.S. foreign policy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Musk is reportedly briefed into Iran jamming Starlink, and he said to be \u201cfully on board with efforts to restore connectivity in Iran and green-lighting his engineers to work on a solution.\u201d What that might be to stop local receiver jamming remains to be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bloomberg<\/a>, meanwhile, reports that Musk has now agreed to requests to offer \u201cfree Starlink in Iran as (the) internet blackout persists.\u201d Clearly, the cost of the connectivity is not the primary issue at the moment. And unless the trickling levels of bandwidth can be restored to more normal levels in more parts of the country, it won\u2019t become so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if that connectivity is restored, Iran is now proving it will resort to more functional and less technical means to prevent video and other information being transmitted overseas. \u201c\u201cIran is hunting down Starlink users to stop protest videos from going global,\u201d The Wall Street Journal<\/em><\/a> reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Over the weekend, authorities began searching for and confiscating Starlink dishes in western Tehran,\u201d The Journal<\/em> says, citing Rashidi. \u201cVideo from the streets is one of the few ways of getting information out about the scale of the protests and the actions of Iranian authorities.\u201d And right now, Starlink is still the best hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Flag](\"https:\/\/imageio.forbes.com\/specials-images\/imageserve\/696375549f0dd2ca297c913a\/Flag-of-Iran-on-binary-code-\/0x0.jpg?crop=2716%2C1478%2Cx479%2Cy262%2Csafe&width=960\")
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