Iran deploys ‘kill switch’ to jam Starlink amid deepening digital blackout

WEB DESK: Iran has, for the first time, moved to actively disrupt Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, marking a sharp escalation in its efforts to enforce a nationwide digital blackout. The move has cut off a crucial lifeline used by protesters and anti-government activists when conventional internet access is shut down.

Monitoring groups and media reports say military-grade jammers have been deployed to interfere with Starlink signals, significantly reducing connectivity across large parts of the country.

Disruptions intensify within hours

According to Iran Wire, satellite connections have been hit despite reports that tens of thousands of Starlink terminals are operating inside Iran. Initial disruptions reportedly affected around 30 per cent of Starlink traffic, surging to more than 80 per cent within hours.

The Times of Israel reported that Starlink usage inside Iran had expanded far beyond levels seen during previous blackouts, even though the service remains illegal and unlicensed under Iranian law.

GPS jamming creates patchy connectivity

According to Forbes, xperts say the shutdown appears to be linked to interference with GPS signals, which Starlink terminals rely on to connect with satellites. Iran has increasingly disrupted GPS since last year’s conflict with Israel, resulting in highly localised outages and near-total blackouts in some sensitive areas.

NetBlocks confirmed that Starlink access is being jammed, though limited connectivity persists in certain locations. “It’s patchy, but still there,” said Alp Toker, director of the internet monitoring group.

Possible use of Russian technology

While the exact technology being used remains unconfirmed, analysts and journalists have pointed to possible Russian military systems supplied to Iran in recent months. Some reports describe a technological contest with Starlink, involving mobile units that emit radio noise to overwhelm satellite receivers.

Digital rights researcher Amir Rashidi said the scale of the disruption was unprecedented. “In 20 years of monitoring internet access, I have never seen anything like this,” he said, citing data showing a sudden collapse in satellite traffic.

Economic cost of the digital siege

Internet shutdown analysts say Iran’s current blackout is among the most severe ever recorded. NetBlocks reported that connectivity has dropped by as much as 99 per cent, with fixed-line internet, mobile data and calls largely disabled.

According to estimates, the shutdown is costing Iran roughly $1.5 million per hour, with losses already exceeding $130 million. Analysts warn the regime may still prolong the blackout, prioritising control over economic stability.

US pressure and Musk’s response

US media reported that President Donald Trump has urged Elon Musk to help Iranian protesters bypass the blackout, highlighting Starlink’s growing role in geopolitical crises. Musk has reportedly authorised engineers to work on restoring connectivity and has agreed to provide free Starlink service to Iran during the outage.

However, experts caution that cost is not the main obstacle if jamming continues to cripple bandwidth.

Authorities hunt Starlink users

Even as satellite links struggle to function, Iranian authorities have reportedly turned to physical crackdowns. The Wall Street Journal reported that security forces have begun searching for and confiscating Starlink dishes, particularly in western Tehran, to prevent protest footage from reaching the outside world.

Despite limited restoration of phone calls in some areas, NetBlocks said Iran remains effectively cut off, with no secure means of communication and growing evidence of force being used against civilians.

Starlink has yet to publicly comment on the situation.