Back

Starlink Provides Free Internet Access in Iran Amid Nationwide Blackout

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • SpaceX waived Starlink fees in Iran on January 13, 2026
  • Iran has enforced a near-total internet shutdown since January 8, 2026
  • Starlink service is officially banned by Iranian authorities

SpaceX enabled free Starlink internet access in Iran during a period of widespread connectivity loss, according to multiple organizations and media reports. The move allowed users to access the internet without payment while official restrictions remained in place.

Holistic Resilience, a U.S.-based nonprofit, reported that SpaceX lifted Starlink service fees for users in Iran on January 13, 2026. This action was confirmed by Bloomberg, which stated that free Starlink service was being provided in the country at that time.

The Associated Press stated that activists, including Mehdi Yahyanejad, confirmed the activation and use of free Starlink service in Iran. These reports indicated that the service was tested successfully with a newly activated terminal during the blackout.

AP News reported that as of January 14, 2026, Starlink continued to offer free access in Iran to help bypass the ongoing communications blackout. The blackout, which began on January 8, 2026, resulted in near-zero connectivity across the country, according to monitoring by NetBlocks.

What the numbers show

  • Starlink fees were waived in Iran on January 13, 2026
  • The internet blackout in Iran began on January 8, 2026
  • NetBlocks reported near-zero connectivity during the blackout

Iranian authorities have officially banned Starlink service, imposing severe penalties for those who use or distribute the technology. Penalties for violating these restrictions can include the death penalty, according to media reports.

Efforts by Iranian authorities to block Starlink have included attempts to jam satellite signals. Despite these measures, some users have managed to access the service by smuggling Starlink receivers into the country, as reported by the Financial Times.

Starlink has previously been used in other regions experiencing communications blackouts, such as Ukraine, Myanmar, and Sudan. In these cases, the service helped maintain internet connectivity during periods of disruption.

Reuters reported that U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of restoring internet access in Iran with Elon Musk and considered sending additional Starlink terminals. These discussions occurred alongside ongoing efforts to address the blackout in Iran.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

Sources and further reading

Related Articles

  1. Access to Grok was blocked in Indonesia on January 10, 2026, and restricted in Malaysia on January 12, according to reports.

  2. SwitchBot unveiled the Onero H1 humanoid robot at CES 2026, capable of household tasks like cooking and cleaning, according to reports.

  3. Bruno Fernandes's X account was hacked, according to reports. Fans are advised not to engage with any suspicious activity on the platform.

  4. A proposal from the Conservative Party seeks to ban social media access for those under 16, citing similar actions taken in Australia for safety.

  5. GCSE results will be accessible via the Education Record app for Year 11 students in England starting summer 2026.

More on Technology

  1. AI infrastructure is shifting as smaller, distributed data centres support model training, reducing latency and costs, according to industry experts.

  2. Fugaku simulated the mouse cortex, modeling nearly 10 million neurons and 26 billion synapses across 86 regions, according to the study.

  3. Researchers developed a quantum-optimal coronagraph, achieving a 1000:1 contrast ratio and enhancing exoplanet detection speed by up to 100 times.

  4. Injecting randomness into quantum neural networks enhances their measurement capabilities, according to recent studies on quantum properties.

  5. His work on PBS’s Computer Chronicles introduced early personal computing to a broad television audience, documenting key developments in consumer technology.