The clandestine network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout
A clandestine network is smuggling Starlink satellite internet technology into Iran to circumvent the government's internet blackout, which has been in place for over two months. The network, involving individuals like Sahand, sends Starlink devices into Iran, allowing users to bypass the heavily controlled domestic internet.
Iran has been experiencing a prolonged internet blackout for over two months following airstrikes by the US and Israel on February 28. The shutdown, justified by officials as a measure to prevent surveillance and cyber-attacks, has been circumvented by a clandestine network smuggling Starlink satellite internet technology into the country. Sahand, an Iranian involved in the network, has sent a dozen Starlink devices to Iran since January and continues to seek ways to smuggle more. The Starlink devices, provided by Elon Musk's SpaceX, allow multiple users to connect to the internet simultaneously, bypassing Iran's controlled domestic network. Using, buying, or selling Starlink devices is punishable by up to two years in prison in Iran, with longer sentences for larger quantities. Despite the risks, a market for Starlink terminals persists in Iran, with a Telegram channel reporting the sale of approximately 5,000 terminals over two and a half years.
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