Iran’s latest internet blackout extends to phones and Starlink

Iran’s internet shutdown cuts off most communication with the outside world during violent repression of national protests.

By: Amanda Meng, Georgia Institute of Technology; Alberto Dainotti, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Zachary Bischof, Georgia Institute of Technology, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 16, 2026

Words: 1,482

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Amanda Meng, Georgia Institute of Technology; Alberto Dainotti, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Zachary Bischof, Georgia Institute of Technology

The Iranian regime’s internet shutdown, initiated on Jan. 8, 2026, has severely diminished the flow of information out of the country. Without internet access, little news about the national protests that flared between Dec. 30, 2025, and Jan. 13, 2026, and the regime’s violent crackdown has reached the world. Many digital rights and internet …

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