Iran’s Next Internet Blackout Is Inevitable Iranians experienced one of the world’s longest internet blackouts, which severely impacted the economy and personal connections, highlighting the government’s use of communication shutdowns as a tool of control. While technologies like Starlink have offered some reprieve, they face government crackdowns, necessitating new solutions such as direct-to-cell (D2C) technology. The expansion of D2C faces international regulatory hurdles, with a debate ongoing about whether it will empower citizens or be blocked by authoritarian regimes.

• Iran has experienced its fifth and longest internet blackout, significantly disrupting communication and daily life.
• The blackout had severe economic consequences, costing the country an estimated $80 million daily and affecting businesses reliant on online platforms.
• Iranian authorities maintained a domestic intranet for essential services and offered preferential internet access, while ordinary citizens faced instability and insecurity.
• Communications blackouts are used by the Iranian government to control public image, conceal human rights violations, and suppress dissent, with past blackouts preceding violent crackdowns.
• The Iranian diaspora experienced profound isolation, losing contact with family and friends during the prolonged outage.
• Direct-to-cell (D2C) technology is proposed as a more resilient alternative to satellite terminals like Starlink, offering a way for phones to connect directly to satellites.
• The Direct-to-Cell Coalition advocates for D2C technology to be designed with features that protect populations during internet shutdowns.
• International regulatory hurdles and lobbying by countries like China and Iran could impede the development and accessibility of D2C technology for free communication.