Iran is using military-grade GPS jamming and other tactics, disrupting service for many users, but activists are finding workarounds, and SpaceX has reportedly made the service free in Iran to counter efforts, creating an ongoing "cat-and-mouse" battle between the government and users seeking to bypass censorship.
Iran's Countermeasures:
GPS Jamming: Authorities are deploying powerful jammers to disrupt the satellite signals that Starlink terminals need, a technique similar to what Russia uses in Ukraine.
Surveillance & Enforcement: Iran has criminalized Starlink use, increasing penalties, and uses informers and online monitoring to find users, even raiding apartments.
Exported Tech: Some jamming equipment may be sourced from countries like China or Russia, according to reports.
How Activists Are Responding:
Smuggling Terminals: Activists smuggle Starlink dishes (terminals) into Iran, bypassing official bans, with estimates of 50,000 units now in the country.
SpaceX Support: SpaceX reportedly waived subscription fees for Iranian users, providing a significant boost, and pushed a firmware update to counter jamming.
"Cat-and-Mouse" Game: It's a continuous effort, with activists working to stay online and the government escalating its methods to stop them, noted experts.
Current Status:
While jamming has been effective in certain areas, it hasn't completely shut down Starlink nationwide, with many Iranians still managing to get online and share information.
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