Iranian authorities have implemented a near-total shutdown of the internet in a crackdown on widespread anti-government protests, but a sliver of the population is keeping in touch with the outside world by satellite.
Starlink, a division of Elon Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, is playing an outsize — and in the eyes of overseas activists, crucial — role in connecting Iran with the rest of the world as the country’s leadership turns to force to try to quash the protests.
Starlink provides high-speed internet access and can be used in many places where internet connections are hard to get, including rural areas and at sea. It has also been used in conflict zones before. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, SpaceX made Starlink available in Ukraine, and it quickly became crucial for civilians and the military.
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/15/nx-s1-5678567/iran-internet-blackout-starlink