In a bid to circumvent Iran's crippling internet blackout, thousands of Starlink terminals have been smuggled into the country. The satellite communication service from SpaceX has emerged as one of the few lifelines for Iranians seeking to share news of the protests and government crackdown with the world.
The blackout in Iran has limited access to the global internet, but with Starlink's constellation of low-orbit satellites, users can connect online. This is possible because Starlink does not have a licence to operate in Iran, despite US President Joe Biden's move to allow US tech companies to bypass sanctions and sell communication tools in 2022.
According to human rights director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, access to Starlink has played a pivotal role in sharing information about the protests, including estimates of the death toll. This comes as Iran's government has struggled to contain the widespread unrest, with reports suggesting over 1,000 protesters have been killed and more than 100 security personnel also lost their lives.
Iran's latest shutdown was preceded by internet traffic anomalies, and the government has tried to jam Starlink signals and seize terminals in an attempt to restrict access. The use of satellite technology, however, remains a crucial means for Iranians to bypass the blackout and stay connected with the world.
But what is Starlink exactly? It operates on a constellation of telecoms satellites orbiting at low Earth altitudes about 550km above the ground. Users need a wifi-enabled satellite receiver – also known as a terminal – that must constantly hand off signals from one satellite to another as they pass overhead. This allows for greater flexibility but also makes it more vulnerable to jamming.
Starlink's deployment has been shrouded in controversy, particularly in Ukraine where the service was used by the military during Russia's invasion, and in Sudan and Myanmar where it has been used by various groups, including scam centres that have exploited its connectivity.
The blackout in Iran has limited access to the global internet, but with Starlink's constellation of low-orbit satellites, users can connect online. This is possible because Starlink does not have a licence to operate in Iran, despite US President Joe Biden's move to allow US tech companies to bypass sanctions and sell communication tools in 2022.
According to human rights director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, access to Starlink has played a pivotal role in sharing information about the protests, including estimates of the death toll. This comes as Iran's government has struggled to contain the widespread unrest, with reports suggesting over 1,000 protesters have been killed and more than 100 security personnel also lost their lives.
Iran's latest shutdown was preceded by internet traffic anomalies, and the government has tried to jam Starlink signals and seize terminals in an attempt to restrict access. The use of satellite technology, however, remains a crucial means for Iranians to bypass the blackout and stay connected with the world.
But what is Starlink exactly? It operates on a constellation of telecoms satellites orbiting at low Earth altitudes about 550km above the ground. Users need a wifi-enabled satellite receiver – also known as a terminal – that must constantly hand off signals from one satellite to another as they pass overhead. This allows for greater flexibility but also makes it more vulnerable to jamming.
Starlink's deployment has been shrouded in controversy, particularly in Ukraine where the service was used by the military during Russia's invasion, and in Sudan and Myanmar where it has been used by various groups, including scam centres that have exploited its connectivity.
think they're using this tech to info-gather on Iran's protests? Like, who gets access to a satellite comms system like that without some kinda permission from the government? 
They just kinda... smuggle in their terminals and it's all good? It sounds fishy to me. And what about the jamming signals they're trying to stop? Sounds like they're trying to hide something, you know? 
The whole thing is just a bit too convenient for my taste...
. I mean, who needs licenses to operate when you've got satellites orbiting the Earth? It's like the ultimate hackathon project, but on a massive scale 
. And let's be real, it's basically impossible for governments to shut down completely – those signals are bouncing off every satellite and receiver all over the world 
.
. And yeah, it's not like Iran's government hasn't tried to jam the signals – they're basically trying to outsmart themselves 
.
. I mean, sure, it's great for connecting people with wifi, but when you've got scam centres exploiting it... 
that's just not cool. But still, I guess that's the trade-off for all this cutting-edge tech 
.
! Like, I get that they're trying to help people stay connected in Iran, but at the same time, it's wild that their service is being used for some shady stuff too 
. Like, I've heard stories about scam centres and whatnot using the internet to scam people... that's just not cool, you know? 
. And it's crazy how the government is trying to shut them down by jamming signals and seizing terminals - like, can't they just leave them alone? 
I'm not surprised to see Starlink getting used as a lifeline for Iranians trying to get around Iran's internet blackout 
. Anyway, Starlink's low-orbit satellites are like the ultimate hack for staying online when all other doors are closed 
! And yeah, I've heard rumors about some shady users exploiting the service in Sudan and Myanmar too 
... still, you gotta respect how it's being used to help people in a real-life crisis 
.