Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Jan 19: Iran has entered the tenth day of one of the most extreme internet shutdowns in its history, with nearly 92 million people cut off from online services and severe disruption to phone and text messaging, triggering fears of long-term digital isolation.

Internet access was cut on January 8, with the Iranian government claiming the move was in response to what it described as externally directed “terrorist operations”. However, rights groups and internet freedom observers say the shutdown is aimed at suppressing dissent and preventing international scrutiny of a government crackdown on protests.

The authorities have not announced when services will be restored. According to IranWire, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told journalists that international internet access may not resume until at least the Iranian New Year in late March. Internet monitoring group FilterWatch has warned that Iran may be fast-tracking new systems to permanently restrict access to the global internet.

“There should be no expectation of reopening international internet access in its previous form,” FilterWatch said, citing unnamed government sources. While these claims could not be independently verified, journalists speaking to BBC Persian said they were also told that internet services would not return anytime soon.

Iran has long maintained strict control over online activity, blocking most Western social media platforms and foreign news websites. Many users previously relied on virtual private networks to bypass restrictions. Rights group Access Now said Iran has repeatedly used shutdowns to conceal violence and mass arrests, including during nationwide protests in 2019 and 2022.

Internet traffic data showed a slight increase in connectivity from January 17, but overall access remains extremely limited, at just 0.2 per cent of pre-shutdown levels. The current blackout has already lasted longer than any previous shutdown, including those imposed during periods of regional conflict.

The shutdown has severely affected daily life and livelihoods, with e-commerce and small businesses particularly hit. The Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates more than 3,300 protester deaths and over 24,000 arrests across 187 cities, though the actual figures are believed to be much higher due to the lack of independent verification.

Experts say Iran may be moving toward a tighter internet control model similar to China and Russia, with a tiered system requiring government approval for access to the global internet. Digital rights experts warn that key decisions are increasingly being driven by security agencies rather than civilian authorities.

Despite the crackdown, satellite-based internet services such as Starlink have provided limited connectivity, complicating government efforts to impose a total blackout. Analysts say advances in satellite communication and alternative networking technologies could continue to challenge state control.

For now, rights groups warn that millions of Iranians remain trapped in a “communication black hole”, with serious consequences for human rights, access to information and economic activity.