Protests escalate as Iran cuts off internet, Musk's Starlink aid is disrupted by military-grade jammers

The nationwide protests triggered by Iran’s economic collapse have continued for three weeks, resulting in at least 544 deaths. The Tehran authorities have implemented strict internet shutdowns to prevent the spread of demonstrations. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has activated Starlink services in an attempt to provide an independent communication channel for the region. However, this effort faced strong technical countermeasures, as the Iranian government deployed military-grade jammers to block satellite signals.

Iranian Protest Wave and Nationwide Internet Blackout

Due to nationwide anti-government protests (involving economic collapse, inflation, demands for regime change, etc.), the Iranian government imposed extremely strict internet disconnections across the country. Internet traffic dropped to below 1% of normal levels, severely affecting mobile communications and international calls. This is one of the most severe digital blockades in Iran in recent years, aimed at preventing protesters from organizing, spreading information, and maintaining contact with the outside world. Currently, protests have spread to over 100 cities across 31 provinces, reportedly causing about 544 deaths and over 10,000 arrests.

Musk Launches Starlink Rescue

Multiple international media reports indicate that Elon Musk and SpaceX quietly activated Starlink services over Iran during the internet shutdown, reportedly providing free connections during the protests as a “lifeline” for protesters.

Faced with the vulnerability of ground network infrastructure being controlled or destroyed, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication systems, represented by Starlink, demonstrate their unique strategic value. Unlike traditional satellites in geostationary orbit, LEO satellites feature low latency and high coverage, capable of providing internet services directly to ground terminals without relying on ground fiber or base stations. In Iran’s case, despite technical and legal challenges such as smuggling of receiving equipment (Dishes) and government spectrum interference, Starlink still successfully provided emergency communication channels in some areas.

Iran Uses “Military-Grade Jammers” to Paralyze Starlink

Unlike previous instances, the Iranian government deployed highly sophisticated military radio interference systems this time.

In the past, Iran often interfered with GPS signals to mislead drones, but experts monitoring the situation observed that the attack targeted Starlink’s uplink and downlink channels. This means the jammers were not just generating noise but precisely covering the Ku and Ka frequency bands. Data shows that packet loss rates for Starlink in some regions of Iran reached as high as 30% to 80%. Additionally, Iranian security forces used high-power mobile jamming devices mounted on trucks. These devices can move into protest hotspots and create “signal black holes” in localized areas, preventing Starlink terminals from locking onto satellites.

Cases of Iran’s internet shutdown and Starlink interference profoundly reshape the market’s understanding of “Communication Resilience.” This communication warfare is not only a microcosm of regional politics but also highlights the strategic importance of communication infrastructure in modern geopolitical and asymmetric risk scenarios.

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