Nearly three weeks into one of the most extreme internet shutdowns in history, some of Iran's 92 million citizens are beginning to get back online - but access appears to be tightly controlled. The country cut off internet access on 8 January, in what is widely seen as an attempt to stem the flow of information about a government crackdown on protesters. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the internet was blocked in response to what he described as 'terrorist operations'. Now there is evidence that some internet access has returned, but independent analysis indicates much of the country is still effectively cut off from the outside world.
Iran's reformist Shargh newspaper has reported that some officials had claimed mobile internet had been restored. However, it said many users still do not have full access and can only connect intermittently and for very limited periods, often after repeated attempts. Firms which monitor web traffic say there are signs of the internet being used inconsistently, raising questions about who is able to connect, and under what conditions.
'What we're seeing isn't a return to normal,' said Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at network intelligence firm Kentik. 'Major platforms are being allowed and blocked at different times during the day.' Internet rights observers say the unrest may have given the authorities an opportunity to accelerate long-planned efforts to tighten control over the internet - measures that would likely have faced far stronger resistance under normal circumstances.
According to sources cited by Shargh, internet access in Iran has effectively been divided into multiple levels - ranging from a complete shutdown to normal access - with current connectivity still far from a full restoration. Foreign messaging apps, including WhatsApp, will remain restricted. However, in recent days, some users have reported being able to connect intermittently to the outside world, using services like Google Meet and Facebook Messenger.
After nearly three weeks of internet disruption, Iran's Minister of Communications Sattar Hashemi said on 26 January that daily losses caused by the shutdown amount to nearly five trillion tomans ($35m; £25m). Amid mounting economic pressure, authorities appear to have introduced tightly controlled forms of internet access for some businesses, which analysts say may be part of a plan to manage connectivity more selectively. Business figures told the BBC that in some cities, members of the Chamber of Commerce are granted just 20 to 30 minutes of unfiltered internet access per day.
Internet freedom observers at FilterWatch have warned the authorities are rapidly implementing new systems aimed at isolating Iran from the global internet. Looking at web traffic data, the patterns suggest a full restoration of internet access may never occur.
Iran's reformist Shargh newspaper has reported that some officials had claimed mobile internet had been restored. However, it said many users still do not have full access and can only connect intermittently and for very limited periods, often after repeated attempts. Firms which monitor web traffic say there are signs of the internet being used inconsistently, raising questions about who is able to connect, and under what conditions.
'What we're seeing isn't a return to normal,' said Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at network intelligence firm Kentik. 'Major platforms are being allowed and blocked at different times during the day.' Internet rights observers say the unrest may have given the authorities an opportunity to accelerate long-planned efforts to tighten control over the internet - measures that would likely have faced far stronger resistance under normal circumstances.
According to sources cited by Shargh, internet access in Iran has effectively been divided into multiple levels - ranging from a complete shutdown to normal access - with current connectivity still far from a full restoration. Foreign messaging apps, including WhatsApp, will remain restricted. However, in recent days, some users have reported being able to connect intermittently to the outside world, using services like Google Meet and Facebook Messenger.
After nearly three weeks of internet disruption, Iran's Minister of Communications Sattar Hashemi said on 26 January that daily losses caused by the shutdown amount to nearly five trillion tomans ($35m; £25m). Amid mounting economic pressure, authorities appear to have introduced tightly controlled forms of internet access for some businesses, which analysts say may be part of a plan to manage connectivity more selectively. Business figures told the BBC that in some cities, members of the Chamber of Commerce are granted just 20 to 30 minutes of unfiltered internet access per day.
Internet freedom observers at FilterWatch have warned the authorities are rapidly implementing new systems aimed at isolating Iran from the global internet. Looking at web traffic data, the patterns suggest a full restoration of internet access may never occur.
