The Iranian government imposed a near-total internet and phone blackout on January 8, cutting off over 90 million people from the outside world. This digital darkness followed widespread anti-government protests sparked by economic hardship and demands for regime change. While the government has partially restored some services, many Iranians remain wary of surveillance and unable to connect internationally. Amidst this repression, Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service has become a critical lifeline, enabling communication despite criminalization by the Iranian authorities.
The Fight for Connectivity in Iran
The protests, which began in late December, were fueled by a collapsing economy: the Iranian rial is now the world’s least valuable currency, and inflation exceeds 40%. The government’s response has been brutal; reports from US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency suggest over 18,000 protesters have been arrested, while death tolls range from at least 2,600 to upwards of 20,000.
Under these conditions, Starlink offers a vital, albeit risky, connection. SpaceX has provided free access to tens of thousands of Iranian users. However, the government actively jams signals and hunts down those using the service, forcing users to operate clandestinely.
Despite these efforts, activists have smuggled roughly 50,000 Starlink terminals into Iran. Developers have even created tools to share connections beyond individual devices, amplifying access where it’s needed most.
Satellites as a Human Rights Issue
The situation in Iran underscores a broader trend: satellites are increasingly essential for documenting and responding to humanitarian crises. In the absence of ground-level access or reliable local reporting, satellite imagery and data provide critical evidence of atrocities.
As reported in November, the Sudanese civil war was visible from space, with satellite data revealing bloodshed amid a complete communications blackout. Around 15,000 satellites currently orbit the Earth, two-thirds of which belong to SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation.
The Threat to Space Infrastructure
The reliance on satellites is not without risk. The growing number of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) – projected to exceed 560,000 by 2040 – increases the likelihood of collisions. A catastrophic cascade of collisions known as Kessler syndrome could render LEO unusable, disrupting essential technologies like GPS, weather monitoring, and satellite internet.
SpaceX is attempting to mitigate this risk by lowering the altitude of 4,400 satellites, but the issue remains a looming threat. The UN recognizes internet access as a human right, and the potential loss of satellite infrastructure would disproportionately impact the 2.6 billion people worldwide who lack connectivity.
Ultimately, the fate of satellite technology is intertwined with our ability to monitor and respond to crises on Earth. Without them, the world risks being left in the dark, unable to verify claims or document human suffering.
