Iran’s internet blackout, initiated after a joint US-Israel military operation on Tehran, has now reached its fifth week, marking the lengthiest nationwide internet shutdown on record. According to digital monitoring group NetBlocks, the blackout has persisted for 37 consecutive days, surpassing 864 hours, exceeding all previous similar incidents in terms of duration and scale.
NetBlocks stated that Iran’s internet blackout has become the lengthiest nation-scale shutdown ever recorded globally, surpassing all comparable incidents in severity. The blackout, which commenced on February 28, has effectively cut off the general public from the global internet as authorities test selective access through a tiered whitelisting system.
While other nations like Myanmar, Sudan, Kashmir, and Tigray have encountered intermittent or region-specific shutdowns, none have faced a complete national disconnect for such an extended period after previously having standard internet access. In contrast, countries like North Korea, which were never connected to the global internet, remain isolated internationally but were never online initially.
The ongoing blackout aligns with continuous missile and drone strikes by the US and Israel on Iranian targets. In retaliation, Tehran has launched counterattacks on US and Israeli facilities in neighboring Gulf countries. Amid the conflict, Iranian authorities have limited alternative access methods like satellite connections and VPNs, leaving citizens with scarce or unreliable communication options.
NetBlocks emphasized the adverse impact of the shutdown, highlighting that families are unable to reach out to their loved ones during this critical period. Despite the hardships faced, there are no indications of a de-escalation, and the Iranian government has not specified when full internet access will be reinstated.
