A diaspora-funded smuggling network ships Starlink terminals across Iran’s borders to bypass a 2+ month national internet shutdown imposed after US/Israeli airstrikes.
Key Takeaways
Iran’s blackout began 28 February 2025 after airstrikes; only select officials get full access via “white sim cards”; 6,500+ protesters killed in preceding crackdown.
Witness estimated 50,000 Starlink terminals already in Iran as of January; a Telegram channel called NasNet has sold ~5,000 over 2.5 years.
Penalties: up to 2 years for personal use, up to 10 years for importing 10+ devices; 100+ people estimated arrested for possession.
Networks now advise pairing Starlink with VPNs to avoid detection, but cost is prohibitive during Iran’s economic crisis.
Iran’s own estimate: each day of blackout costs the economy 50 trillion rials (~$35M); government launched limited “Internet Pro” scheme for some businesses.
Hacker News Comment Review
Core dispute is over the shutdown’s purpose: whether it is primarily a defensive cyber-security measure against US/Israeli surveillance of compromised infrastructure, or a tool to prevent citizen organizing.
No consensus reached; both framings have real-world support, and the regime’s stated rationale (security) aligns more with the first, while historical protest-era shutdowns support the second.
