Iran's internet shutdown continues amid protests

21 Nov 2019

Iran’s internet shutdown continues amid protests

Iran’s internet shutdown continues amid protestsStarting on the afternoon of 16 November, Iran shut down internet services for the whole country. Today is the 5th day of the shutdown and it continues.

Iran shut down all types of internet services following protests by the people against a high rise in fuel prices. The protests started last Friday and spread to over 100 cities. More than 1000 people have been arrested.
 	According to NetBlocks, an internet monitoring site, internet traffic in the country has fallen to 5% of normal levels.
 	What is even more unusual here is that it is not easy to cut off the internet for a whole country as there are various different private operators.
 	However, in Iran, all internet connections are funnelled through just two entities: the state telecoms firm and the Institute for Physics and Mathematics. This has made it easy for the government to control the flow of the internet.
 	People might still be able to use satellite internet or roaming sim cards (of other countries) but that is not certain.
 	As of now, only an "intranet" is working in Iran, which allows people access to Iranian apps and websites like banks, government offices etc. But this is only within the country.

Iranian people living outside the country are worried as they can't get in touch with their families and friends. Iran has a population of 80 million people, who all currently cannot get online.

A similar internet blackout was also in place in  Kashmir till recently.

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Starting on the afternoon of 16 November, Iran shut down internet services for the whole country. Today is the 5th day of the shutdown and […]

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