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Smuggling network keeps Iran online via Starlink amid shutdown and regional conflict
BBC reports that a smuggling network is delivering Starlink devices to Iran to bypass the regime's internet shutdown. By January 2026, an estimated 50,000 devices were in the country, with operators sending devices since January. The February 28 strikes and the ensuing conflict have intensified a two-month blackout, impacting the economy and raising VPN prices.
Why It Matters
The report highlights how satellite-based internet access can bypass domestic controls and affect information flow during conflict, while also revealing tensions between civilian authorities and security services over internet policy.
Timeline
4 Events
March 2026 onward: Two-month internet blackout and economic impact
March 2026
A two-month-long internet blackout persists, with VPN prices in the black market rising. Iran banned Starlink last year, and senior officials reportedly have access via 'white' SIM cards, while the government is allowing limited internet access for some professions. The blockade has been described as harming the economy by billions of dollars in impact.
February 28, 2026: US-Israel strikes trigger regional war and internet blockade
February 28, 2026
US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering a region-wide war and a communication blockade affecting Iran.
January 2026: BBC reports on Starlink smuggling and device presence
January 2026
BBC reports a smuggling network ships Starlink devices into Iran. An operator using the pseudonym Sahand says he has sent about a dozen devices since January. Witness estimates there were around 50,000 Starlink devices in Iran in January.
December 2025: Iran's internet intermittency amid protests
December 2025
The article notes that since December 2025, internet connectivity in Iran had been going on and off amid protests over economic woes.