Is Starlink rendering Iran's internet filtering useless?

Iranians have recently shared videos and photos of Starlink satellite internet terminals being installed on rooftops, raising expectations that this technology could soon render the government’s internet filtering efforts ineffective.

Starlink devices have been in limited use for nearly two years now but in the past two weeks there has been a sudden social media interest that is difficult to explain given the unaffordability of the terminals and monthly subscription for most Iranians.

However, the availability of Starlink is seen by many as a potential game-changer for bypassing state-imposed online restrictions, allowing greater access to unfiltered internet in Iran.

The terminals typically cost around $500, depending on the model, with a monthly subscription fee of $110. However, in the Iranian market, prices are significantly higher, reaching up to three times the standard cost. Users still need domestic internet subscriptions to connect to government websites and the banking system. Starlink alone cannot bypass these local services, as access to critical domestic infrastructures remains tied to Iran's national network, requiring users to maintain both international and domestic connections.

Installation of Starlink and speed test in Tehran

To put the potential cost in perspective, an ordinary employee earns around $200 a month and can never spend hundreds of dollars for unfettered internet access.

There is also an element of risk involved in the use of Starlink. The terminals have to be smuggled into country from neighboring countries, particularly the Iraqi Kurdistan and the Persian Gulf countries as Starlink has no regulatory approval to operate in Iran.

In October 2023, Iran's Ministry of Telecommunications demanded that SpaceX obtain licensing for Starlink operations and filed a complaint with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) over unauthorized use in Iran, which resulted in a ruling in Iran's favor. While over 60 countries have approved Starlink services, Iran is likely to demand access to user data—a request SpaceX would almost certainly reject.

Those found using Starlink in Iran risk prosecution for possessing smuggled goods. In November 2023, Iranian security forces confiscated 22 Starlink terminals, claiming they were CIA property intended for use by the office of dissident Sunni cleric Mowlavi Abdolhamid Esmail-Zehi.

The illicit terminals must be registered in the countries from where they are smuggled for the same reason and operate in ‘roaming’ mode once installed in Iran.

In many cases, social media posts suggest that multiple families in large apartment buildings share a single Starlink device to reduce the cost, similar to how satellite dishes were shared when first introduced in the 1990s, despite being banned.

Many Iranians recall police raids and jamming that rendered satellite dishes useless. The government continues to resort to jamming, especially during unrest, while also implementing internet blackouts to stifle dissent.

Since the early 2000s, the Islamic Republic has tightly controlled the internet, forcing most Iranians to rely on anti-filtering software to access blocked websites and social media. The widespread use of such software is a major cause of slow internet speeds, with allegations that influential figures behind the restrictions benefit from selling VPNs.

Iran has been working on a national network to cut off access to the global internet and gain complete control over online content.

During his campaign, President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized internet restrictions, which impact freedom and hurt hundreds of thousands of small businesses. However, his government has yet to make any meaningful changes to the strict policies set by a council that includes key state officials, such as the Revolutionary Guards and police chiefs.

Hesam Misaghi, an expert from the Persian-language Telegram channel Starlink for Iran, told Iran International that it’s difficult to determine how many Starlink terminals are currently in use in Iran. He estimates there could be between 10,000 to 20,000 terminals, based on information from merchants and installation technicians.

Starlink satellites were activated over Iran in September 2022 after the US Treasury authorized certain transactions to ensure Iranian protesters could access the internet to share footage of the crackdown. By October 2022, after the Mahsa Amini protests spread nationwide and authorities imposed internet blackouts, Starlink terminals were smuggled into Iran and activated.

In January 2023, the head of the Tehran Telecom Traders Union, Mehdi Mohebi, quoted an “official” whose identity he did not want to reveal, saying that around 800 Starlink terminals had been smuggled into Iran. A few days earlier, Elon Musk had said the number of active terminals in Iran was approaching 100.