Starlink: Iran protesters activate ‘close to 100’ illegal internet receivers, Elon Musk says

SpaceX satellites help activists circumvent government’s strict online censorship and blackouts

Iranian authorities claim satellite dishes like SpaceX’s Starlink receiver ‘deviate morality and culture' (Karim Sadjadpour/ Twitter)

There are close to 100 of SpaceX’s Starlink internet terminals operating in Iran, according to chief executive Elon Musk

The space-based internet service is illegal in Iran as it allows users to bypass strict online censorship laws in the country, with Iranian authorities claiming satellite dishes “deviate morality and culture”.

State-imposed internet blackouts have also become a frequent occurrence since protests broke out in September following the death of Mahasi Amini. The 22-year-old law student died while being detained by morality police in Tehran for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely.

SpaceX’s constellation of around 3,300 Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit offer high-speed and censorship-free internet to users on the ground who have access to a terminal.

In September, activists began smuggling dozens of the ground-based receivers into Iran to allow better communication and access to information for protesters.

“These efforts are independent of any efforts by the US government to get Starlink terminals to Iran and are in addition to, not in lieu of, other tools (including VPNs) to circumvent Iran’s state censorship,” said Professor Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“Getting Starlink terminals to Iran isn’t risk-free, but Iranian popular demand for unfettered Internet access is enormous... Where there’s a will.”

A Starlink terminal purportedly installed on a rooftop in Iran on 21 October, 2022 (Babak Bardiya/ screengrab)

Professor Sadjadpour said that activists planned to scale up to “several thousand” Starlink terminals over the coming months.

“Approaching 100 Starlinks active in Iran,” Mr Musk tweeted on Monday, having spoken with Professor Sadjadpour to activate the network over Iran.

Starlink is available in light blue areas as of 6 December, 2022 (SpaceX)

Each Starlink terminal is capable of serving up to 200 devices on its network, though additional technology can extend this support to up to 8,000 devices.

The US government has supported the use of the Starlink network in Iran, offering SpaceX an exemption from trade sanctions in order to operate there.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the move was designed to “advance internet freedom and the free flow of information for the Iranian people”.