Users of Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by SpaceX, were able to access the internet for free in Iran this week as authorities imposed a near-total communications shutdown amid widespread protests.
According to Holistic Resilience, a U.S.-based nonprofit that helps Iranians maintain access to the web, fees for Starlink service in Iran were temporarily waived, allowing users with existing terminals to connect without payment despite government restrictions.
The development came as Iranian authorities intensified efforts to curb information flows and online coordination, a tactic frequently deployed during periods of political unrest.
How Free Access Was Enabled
Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director of Holistic Resilience, said SpaceX suspended charges for Starlink service on Tuesday morning, enabling users in Iran to go online at no cost. He added that people inside the country confirmed they were able to access the service without making payments during the blackout.
The New York Times, which first reported the development, said it was unable to independently verify the claims. SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment.
Bloomberg had earlier reported that SpaceX was offering free Starlink service in Iran as protests escalated.
Starlink, Protests, and State Pushback
Iranian authorities have repeatedly cracked down on internet access during protests, seeking to prevent the spread of information and limit the ability of demonstrators to organise online. Rights groups and eyewitnesses have accused security forces of using live fire against unarmed protesters, although casualty figures remain unclear.
Starlink has previously played a similar role in Iran. During antigovernment protests in 2022, Elon Musk announced that the service had been activated in the country to help activists stay connected. Iranian officials at the time accused SpaceX of violating national sovereignty.
Authorities have since banned Starlink terminals and, according to digital rights groups, introduced severe penalties for using the service. In recent days, Iran has also attempted to jam satellite internet signals in an effort to block Starlink access.
Circumventing Jamming Efforts
Amir Rashidi, director of digital rights and security at Miaan Group, another U.S.-based human rights nonprofit, said Starlink users in Iran received a software update this week designed to strengthen signals and help circumvent government jamming attempts.
The update, he said, allowed Starlink terminals to maintain connectivity even as authorities tried to disrupt satellite communications.
A Private Company With Geopolitical Leverage
Starlink has become a critical communications tool in conflict zones, remote regions, and disaster-hit areas. Ukrainian forces, for example, have relied heavily on the service during Russia’s invasion.
Musk’s ability to enable or restrict Starlink access in specific regions has increasingly positioned him—and SpaceX—as a powerful and sometimes unpredictable geopolitical actor.
Starlink is also a major commercial success. SpaceX recently offered to buy insider shares in a transaction that would value the company at around $800 billion, making it one of the world’s most valuable private firms. The company has told shareholders it is preparing for a potential public listing.