WASHINGTON, Jan 16, 2026, 12:27 (EST)
- With Iran’s internet blackout in place, protesters and rights groups are increasingly turning to Starlink as one of the limited options left to access the web.
- Activists and experts report that Iran is using jammers and “GPS spoofing” techniques to interfere with satellite communications.
- France is considering if Eutelsat’s OneWeb terminals might provide a different way to connect with Iran.
Iran’s efforts to cut off communications amid a brutal crackdown are running into Elon Musk’s Starlink. SpaceX recently made the satellite internet service free for Iranians, and existing terminals inside the country have managed to keep some connections up and running.
The timing is crucial since Tehran has mostly cut off internet access amid protests, forcing activists and rights organizations to hunt for any way to share images and reports beyond the country’s borders. Despite being banned, Starlink’s dishes stand out as one of the rare options still functioning.
The Iran test comes at a critical time for SpaceX. Starlink remains a key revenue source, backing both civilian and U.S. military operations through Starlink and the military-grade Starshield. Meanwhile, China is ramping up efforts to build rival satellite constellations for the future.
Iran can quickly flip the switch since the majority of its domestic internet traffic passes through a government-controlled choke point, explained Alp Toker, director of the internet watchdog NetBlocks, referring to an automated “kill switch.” 1
Starlink is increasingly used to document the crackdown. Raha Bahreini, an Iran researcher at Amnesty International, said the group verified dozens of videos from Iran and believed most were shared by people with Starlink access.
“We’re in this strange early phase of space-based communications where SpaceX stands as the only major provider,” said John Plumb, former Pentagon space policy chief. Nariman Gharib, an Iranian opposition activist and cyber-espionage expert based in the UK, noted that Iran seems to be using GPS spoofing—broadcasting false location signals—and added, “you might manage to send text messages, but video calls are out of the question.” 2
Starlink operates a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, with thousands of satellites zooming close to the planet and passing connections between each other as they fly by. This design makes it tougher to disrupt than fiber cables or cell towers, though radio jammers can still interfere, causing slower speeds and weaker signals.
Starlink isn’t authorized to operate in Iran, where lawmakers enacted a law last year banning its use and imposing strict penalties on both users and distributors, according to Iranian state media. Activists and researchers estimate that tens of thousands of terminals might have been smuggled into the country, though the number currently in operation remains uncertain.
Iran has also attempted to raise the issue via U.N.-affiliated telecom channels, claiming Starlink’s operation within the country is unlawful, according to sources familiar with the situation. The Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York declined to comment when approached for a statement.
France is considering the possibility of transferring Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot informed lawmakers. Satellite expert Carlos Placido pointed out that OneWeb’s terminals are larger and easier to jam, whereas “the sheer scale of the Starlink constellation makes jamming more challenging, though certainly not impossible.” 3
Some experts caution that the implications stretch beyond mere connectivity. “The great thing about it is there’s no wire for the government to cut,” noted Jonathan McDowell, a satellite expert at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Internet policy researcher Farzaneh Badiei pointed out that shutdowns often align with spikes in violence, as abuses can no longer be livestreamed. Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director of the nonprofit Holistic Resilience, estimates about 50,000 Starlink units are active in Iran and raised concerns over reliance on a single private operator: “I’m always concerned that this technology depends on the whims of one individual.” 4
Iran has reportedly moved beyond past shutdown tactics by attempting to jam Starlink’s signals and confiscate terminals, according to reports citing Iranian state media and rights groups. “We never saw Iran trying to jam Starlink. That was not the case at all. Now they’re doing it,” said Amir Rashidi, director of internet security and digital rights at the nonprofit Miaan Group. 5
Starlink isn’t a silver bullet. Iran’s countermeasures might get more sophisticated, and anyone caught with a dish risks arrest. The free service could vanish if SpaceX runs into legal trouble or new restrictions. Even brief outages can leave users unable to contact family or share critical evidence.
Right now, a rural broadband system finds itself caught in a political storm, pitting engineers and protesters against electronic warfare units on opposite ends of the connection.
