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| Iran Shuts Down Starlink Internet for the First Time, Marking a New Chapter in Digital Warfare. (Illustration Image) |
An international media report revealed that Iran has, for the first time, managed to disrupt Starlink’s satellite internet service. The disclosure came from U.S.-based media outlet Forbes, which described the move as a major shift in Tehran’s strategy for controlling digital communication and information flow.
According to Forbes, tens of thousands of Starlink devices are believed to be operating inside Iran. Despite that, the latest disruption had a significant and immediate impact on satellite-based communications. In the early stages, around 30 percent of Starlink data traffic was reportedly affected. Within just a few hours, the disruption escalated sharply, surpassing 80 percent.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, relies heavily on the Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine satellite positioning and maintain stable connectivity. This is where the situation becomes critical. Since tensions with Israel have intensified, Iran is said to have stepped up efforts to interfere with GPS signals. As a result, Starlink services began experiencing intermittent outages across several regions.
In some areas, the interference reportedly came close to a near-total shutdown. The sharp drop in Starlink data packet volumes further supports field reports pointing to widespread disruption of satellite communications. Analysts see this as clear evidence of a level of technical intervention never before witnessed in the country.
Amir Rashidi, an internet freedom expert from the advocacy group MENA, described the incident as unprecedented. Speaking to the technology website TekSdar, he said that in more than two decades of monitoring internet access issues, he has never seen restrictions imposed on such a large scale with such a powerful impact.
For the global community, this development sends a strong signal that modern conflict is no longer limited to troops and weapons. Control over the internet, satellites, and digital signals has become a new battlefield. And when even satellite internet can be effectively disrupted, the world is left wondering how far digital warfare will go next.