US EditionMusk Offers Free Starlink in Iran as Internet Blackout Persists
SpaceX waived Starlink fees to help Iranians bypass government blackout amid protests; about 50,000 users access the service despite jamming efforts, activists say.
- This past week, Elon Musk's SpaceX provided free Starlink service in Iran, waiving subscription fees so users with terminals could connect during the blackout, Ahmad Ahmadian told Bloomberg on Tuesday.
- The blackout, which began on January 8, has nearly eliminated fiber-optic and mobile internet, reducing usage to 1 percent, while the Associated Press reported 2,000 deaths and over 10,000 detentions amid protests in Iran.
- Alp Toker, founder of NetBlocks, told Reuters on Monday that Starlink users in Iran face patchy access but the service persists despite government jamming efforts.
- Iranian authorities have labeled Starlink illegal and passed laws criminalizing its use, and government forces have allegedly targeted users sharing protest footage, Fox News reported.
151 Articles
151 Articles
Musk’s Starlink offering free satellite internet service in Iran, activists say
SpaceX has made its Starlink technology free for users in Iran after the government implemented an internet blackout last week to stifle information about ongoing deadly protests, according to activists inside the country. The company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, waived fees for its service, meaning Iranians with Starlink devices can now access satellite internet…
Iranian authorities consider Starlink illegal. Use is punishable. Government forces target Starlink users in a targeted manner.
Elon Musk's SpaceX company is providing free internet access to Iranian users through its Starlink satellite service, while the Islamic Republic continues its repression of citizen protests and in the midst of an almost total blockade of communications.
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