Some Iranians continue to access the internet through Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service despite a sweeping nationwide communications blackout imposed by authorities, according to multiple people inside the country.
The continued access highlights how satellite based connections are once again being used to bypass state ordered shutdowns during periods of political unrest, even as Iran intensifies a crackdown on protests.
Iran’s government has sharply restricted online access in recent days, cutting services delivered through fiber optic cables and mobile phone networks as demonstrations spread across the country. The near total blackout has left most residents unable to communicate online.
Yet Starlink, which transmits signals directly from low earth orbit satellites, remains active in parts of Iran despite being banned by authorities, three users told Reuters.
One Starlink user in western Iran said dozens of people in his area were still online through the service, adding that access in border towns and nearby cities appeared largely unaffected.
Alp Toker, founder of internet monitoring group NetBlocks, said he had also received reports confirming that Starlink access persists, though at reduced levels.
“It is patchy, but still there,” Toker said, explaining that connectivity through traditional networks remained almost entirely offline.
According to NetBlocks data, non satellite internet access across Iran stood at roughly 1 percent of normal levels as of Monday, following a broader blackout that began on January 8.
Specialists said it was unclear how Iranian authorities were attempting to disrupt Starlink signals. Some suggested jamming equipment may be used to overpower the terminals and block their ability to receive satellite transmissions.
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SpaceX, the privately held U.S. company that operates Starlink, did not respond to requests for comment. Iranian officials were also unreachable due to widespread phone and internet outages.
Iran’s leadership has blamed the unrest on what it calls terrorist elements and has pledged to protect the political system.
The service’s use in Iran adds to a growing list of conflict zones where Starlink has become a critical communications tool during shutdowns and warfare.
In Ukraine, Starlink has supported communications since Russia’s full scale invasion in 2022. In Myanmar, rebel groups, aid workers, and medical teams have relied on the system amid repeated blackouts imposed by the military junta. In Sudan, Starlink has been used by multiple sides during years of civil conflict marked by prolonged network outages.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he plans to speak with Musk about restoring internet access in Iran, without specifying the technology involved.
