In the shadows of Iran’s strict telecommunications controls, a determined network of activists, Iranian diaspora members, and volunteers is quietly smuggling Starlink satellite internet terminals into the country. Their mission: to pierce through government-imposed internet blackouts and ensure that voices from the ground can reach the outside world during times of crisis.
A recent BBC investigation highlights the human element of this operation. One participant, “Sahand” (a pseudonym for an Iranian man living abroad), describes his role in a “very complex” cross-border smuggling effort. He and others in the network purchase the white, flat Starlink terminals overseas, prepare them for shipment, and route them through Iran’s porous borders. Since January, Sahand alone has sent around a dozen devices. “If even one extra person is able to access the internet, I think it’s successful and it’s worth it,” he told the BBC. The terminals, paired with routers, connect directly to SpaceX’s constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, allowing multiple users to share a connection and bypass Iran’s censored domestic network entirely.
A Response to Repeated Blackouts
Iran has a long history of throttling or completely shutting down the internet during periods of unrest. Major protests in January 2026, triggered by economic hardship and met with a harsh crackdown that reportedly killed over 6,500 people and led to tens of thousands of arrests, were accompanied by severe connectivity disruptions. A subsequent blackout, intensified since late February amid regional conflicts including U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, has lasted for more than two months, isolating millions.
Under normal conditions, Iran’s internet operates as a tiered system: a heavily filtered domestic intranet for basic services and state media, with global access restricted and popular platforms like Instagram, Telegram, and YouTube often blocked. Full blackouts create an “information vacuum,” allowing authorities to control narratives while silencing independent reporting and coordination among protesters. Digital rights advocates argue that such shutdowns violate fundamental human rights and cannot be justified.
Starlink has emerged as one of the most effective tools against these restrictions. Private efforts, including a Telegram channel called NasNet, have facilitated the sale of thousands of terminals over recent years. Broader estimates place the number of operating devices inside Iran at 50,000 or higher. Activists prioritize delivering them to those best positioned to document events and share information internationally.
Government Involvement and Scale
The operation has received a significant boost from outside actors. According to reports, the U.S. State Department under the Trump administration covertly facilitated the delivery of roughly 6,000 Starlink terminals following the January crackdown—the first direct U.S. effort of this kind. Nearly 7,000 units were purchased, with funds redirected from other internet freedom initiatives. President Trump was aware of the deliveries, and discussions with SpaceX’s Elon Musk took place around the same period.
Other U.S.-based activist groups have contributed hundreds more devices through smuggling routes, often via neighboring countries, while offering remote guidance on secure usage.
Severe Risks and Iranian Countermeasures
The activity carries extreme personal danger. Possessing or using a Starlink terminal is illegal in Iran and can be prosecuted as espionage. Penalties range from up to two years in prison for individual use to longer sentences for importing or distributing multiple units. Iranian authorities have seized large consignments—sometimes hidden among household goods—conducted raids, and arrested individuals, including foreigners. Jamming and GPS spoofing techniques are deployed to degrade service, and state media has framed the devices as part of foreign “sabotage” operations.
Smugglers operate with caution, aware that identification could endanger contacts inside the country. Despite this, participants view the work as essential. “The Iranian regime has proven that during a shutdown, they can kill… It is super crucial for Iranians to be able to portray the real picture,” Sahand said.
A Broader Global Trend
Iran’s blackouts are not unique. Internet monitoring groups recorded 313 disruptions across 52 countries in 2025 alone. Yet the resilience of satellite technology like Starlink challenges traditional state control over information flows. While authorities continue aggressive enforcement—including arrests for related online activity—the underground network persists, sustained by private funding and diaspora support.
As blackouts drag on and economic costs mount, the battle over connectivity in Iran underscores a deeper struggle: between authoritarian information control and the human drive for open communication. Whether these clandestine efforts can sustain long-term access remains an open question amid ongoing jamming, seizures, and legal crackdowns.
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