Iranians are back online after a monthslong shutdown but still face heavy restrictions
Summary
Internet access in Iran has been partially restored after a shutdown lasting most of 2026 that began during nationwide protests in January. Although people can now connect again, many say the service is slow, some apps remain blocked, and interruptions continue.Key Facts
- Iran cut off internet access for most of 2026, one of the longest national shutdowns worldwide.
- Authorities said the shutdown was needed after attacks by the U.S. and Israel on February 28.
- Internet connectivity is now about 86% of what it was before the shutdown, but data traffic is still much lower at 40%.
- Popular apps like YouTube and Instagram remain heavily restricted or blocked.
- The shutdown hurt many people’s incomes, especially young people who work online and small online businesses.
- Internet prices spiked during the outage but have since returned closer to normal levels.
- Many Iranians used VPNs to bypass restrictions, but these became more expensive and unaffordable for many.
- Some disruptions and service weaknesses continue, and users fear another shutdown could happen anytime.
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