By Rohan Gunaratna
Starlink satellites are over Iran primarily because Elon Musk activated them to provide internet access, bypassing government shutdowns during heightened regional conflicts, especially following Israeli strikes in mid-2025. This allows Iranians to circumvent state-imposed internet blackouts, offering uncensored communication and access to outside news, despite Iran’s government banning the service and threatening users. Thousands of terminals entered Iran illegally through black market channels, creating a digital lifeline against censorship and control.
Why Starlink was Activated
Starlink was activated primarily due to government internet restrictions. Iran’s government frequently restricts internet access and blocks platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram during periods of unrest or conflict (like the Israel tensions in mid-2025) to control information and stifle dissent.
Additionally, it was a means for the Iranians to bypass censorship by the current authorities in Iran. Musk’s activation provides a way for Iranians to bypass these restrictions, giving them communication and organizing tools.
How It Works in Iran
The service relies on Starlink terminals smuggled into the country, often via neighboring states, operating outside government control. The black market also serves as a conduit for these terminals. They are traded on the black market at high prices, but provide vital connectivity.
Possession of Starlink equipment remains illegal in Iran, with the parliament recently passing laws that impose severe penalties, including fines or imprisonment. Despite this, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 terminals are currently operating in the country.
Iran’s Response
Iran has responded with bans, threats and international appeals.
Iran’s parliament has banned Starlink, criminalizing its use and import, with severe penalties, including potential death sentences for perceived espionage.
Also, Tehran has appealed to international bodies like the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) to force deactivation, citing sovereignty and national security concerns.
This isn’t the first time Starlink has been active in Iran. Musk activated Starlink during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests when the government imposed major blackouts.
In essence, Starlink provides an uncensored internet layer over Iran, directly challenging the government’s control over information flow during crises like today’s massive protests.
After the Iranian regime jammed Starlink, SpaceX Engineers worked around the clock to bypass Iran’s efforts. According to the Washington Post,
“SpaceX is actively working to punch through Iran’s Starlink blackout after Trump personally called Elon about restoring connectivity. Elon green-lit his team to find a solution over the weekend and they’ve already pushed software updates that partially restored service.”
As of mid-January 2026, SpaceX has waived all subscription fees for users in Iran to provide a lifeline during a near-total nationwide internet blackout.
The Iranian regime is actively using military-grade jamming technology (specifically GPS jamming) to disrupt satellite signals. This has caused packet loss of 30% to 80%, making the service patchy or unstable in many regions.
SpaceX engineers recently released a software update that successfully reduced packet loss to about 10% for some users. Monitoring groups like NetBlocks confirm that while the service is reduced, it is still functional, particularly in border towns.
Local activist groups advise users to power up devices discreetly, use physical camouflage for dishes, and change wireless network names to avoid detection by Iranian authorities.
Iran’s jamming strategy isn’t a total kill switch but rather degrades the signal to barely functional dial-up speeds, specifically targeting uploads to prevent protest footage from getting out.
One activist group called it “an ongoing game of cat and mouse” where conditions change by the hour.
Due to the Internet blackout imposed by the Tehran regime, Starlink has once again emerged as a critical “lifeline” for protesters in Iran.
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Rohan Gunaratna is the Author of the book Inside Al Qaeda: Global Network of Terror. He debriefed Al Qaeda and Islamic State leaders. He is a trainer of law enforcement, national security and military counter terrorism units; and is the author and editor of 30 books.