SpaceX activates Starlink satellite internet in Iran to bypass blackout

WASHINGTON – US businessman Elon Musk and SpaceX have activated Starlink satellite internet in Iran amid a nationwide blackout imposed by the regime during ongoing anti-government protests as of January 9, 2026, according to online reports.

Iranians with smuggled Starlink terminals are accessing uncensored internet, bypassing government restrictions. Access is reportedly free for a limited period, similar to previous activations.

The demonstrations, which began in Tehran last month, have spread to all of Iran's 31 provinces but have yet to reach the scale of the 2022-3 unrest sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while in detention for allegedly violating Islamic dress codes.

Starting in Tehran with shopkeepers in the Grand Bazaar angered by a sharp slide in the rial currency, the latest protests now involve others - mainly young men rather than the women and girls who played a key role at the Amini protests.

Iran experienced from Monday a near-total internet shutdown, with traffic dropping to "near zero" as protests entered their 13th day, according to Cybernews.

The protests, spanning all 31 provinces and over 100 cities, are driven by economic collapse, hyperinflation, and calls for regime change, with at least 45 deaths reported.

Authorities have also disrupted phone lines and targeted media to suppress information flow.

Israeli Channel 14 reported that Musk granted free Starlink access to protesters, enabling connectivity despite the blackout.

Iran has protested Starlink to international bodies like the ITU and uses jamming tech, but low-Earth-orbit satellites make full blackouts harder.

The Starlink satellite internet aligns with US policies easing sanctions on tech for internet freedom, and the Trump administration is monitoring the situation closely.

While not "supplying" hardware directly (due to sanctions and bans), Musk has enabled the service multiple times to support connectivity during crises, making it a lifeline for protesters and dissidents.