Starlink connectivity in Iran declined sharply during a nationwide internet shutdown, according to digital monitoring data that tracked a collapse in overall traffic and satellite-linked connections. The disruption marked a rare instance in which satellite internet appeared to be affected alongside conventional networks.
Analysts cited by monitoring groups described the incident as potentially involving electronic warfare techniques rather than standard censorship. Starlink terminals rely on GPS signals to authenticate and connect with satellites, and interference with those signals could disrupt service without damaging space-based infrastructure. Observers noted that connectivity appeared uneven, with some areas retaining limited access while others went dark.
Claims have also circulated that Iran may have drawn on expertise developed elsewhere, including methods associated with Russian electronic warfare capabilities used in conflict zones. While these assertions remain unverified, they have intensified debate over the vulnerability of satellite internet to jamming and spoofing.
The incident has broader implications for state sovereignty and global communications. Satellite internet services operating without formal authorization are increasingly viewed by governments as foreign infrastructure during periods of unrest. As more states explore ways to regulate or restrict such systems, the episode highlights how satellite connectivity is becoming entwined with geopolitics, security, and the militarisation of information networks.
