A Week of Digital Darkness: Iran Passes the 168 Hour Mark With No Internet Access

According to Netblocks, an internet observatory, the regime disrupted 99% of the country’s connectivity to the internet just hours after the first strikes hit Iran. These measures, which have been implemented by the Iranian regime before, impact the economic activities and communication capabilities of civilians.

Iran Registers Over 168 Hours With a Near-Total Internet Blackout

The Iranian regime is currently restricting the ability of Iranians to connect to the internet, engulfing the country in a state of digital darkness.

Netblocks, an internet connectivity observatory, has recently revealed that the Iranian regime has submitted the whole country to an almost complete internet blackout for over 168 hours, impacting the ability of Iranian civilians not only to transact but also to be informed about the ongoing strikes of the U.S.-Iran coalition.

On social media, the organization stated:

A full week has now passed since #Iran fell into digital darkness under a regime-imposed national internet blackout. The measure remains in place at hour 168, leaving the public isolated without vital updates and alerts while officials and state media retain access.

Furthermore, Netblocks reported that the few Iranians who are still connected are being threatened with legal actions from their service providers, promoting an “Orwellian environment.”

Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist, highlights that these disruptions have left “millions in darkness” while “forcing families around the world into painful uncertainty about their loved ones.”

The imposed blackout has also severely affected the local cryptocurrency industry, with major local exchanges like Nobitex and Ramzinex halting operations at first, and then operating in containment mode, adhering to additional restrictions from the Central Bank of Iran.

This kind of restriction is not unprecedented. The Iranian regime resorted to similar measures in January, when the regime submitted the population to a similar blackout for 20 days as the population organized nationwide protests against the economic crisis the country faces.

Official figures put the death toll of these events at over 3,000, while the internet disruptions were estimated by the Iranian Minister of Communications to reach $35.7 million in daily economic losses.

FAQ

• What is happening with internet access in Iran?
  The Iranian regime has imposed an almost complete internet blackout lasting over 168 hours, isolating civilians from critical information and transactions.

• How has this internet blackout impacted Iranians?
  Netblocks reports that the blackout has left millions in darkness, restricting communication and updates about ongoing U.S.-Iran coalition strikes.

• What consequences are users facing for trying to connect to the internet?
  Iranians who manage to connect are threatened with legal actions from service providers, creating an oppressive environment for access.

• How has the blackout affected local cryptocurrency exchanges?
  Major exchanges like Nobitex and Ramzinex have halted operations and are under strict restrictions from the Central Bank of Iran due to the ongoing blackout.