Irans government has activated a sophisticated kill switch strategy to jam Starlink satellite internet services, intensifying a near-total communications blackout as protests rage across the country for a sixth straight day. The move, blending nationwide internet shutdowns with targeted electronic jamming, has left demonstrators struggling to share footage and organize, amid reports of hundreds killed in clashes.

Authorities are using military-grade equipment to flood GPS and satellite frequencies, preventing Starlink dishes from locking onto SpaceX satellites overhead. This Cold War-inspired tactic exploits the systems reliance on precise location data and weak user signals, creating dead zones without directly attacking the orbital network. While not foolproof, it has slashed service by up to 80% in urban areas, forcing users to improvise with dish repositioning.

Unrest erupted on January 8 across all 31 provinces, triggered by economic woes and political grievances, prompting a 97% drop in internet access. Elon Musk enabled Starlink as a workaround, but Tehran branded the terminals espionage devices and ramped up jamming, likely with Russian technical aid honed in Ukraine. Black-market sales persist, though arrests are mounting.

This marks the first confirmed Starlink takedown by jamming, highlighting vulnerabilities in satellite internet for censored regions. Past Iranian blackouts have drained millions from the economy hourly, and experts warn of copycat tactics in places like Myanmar. SpaceX may counter with anti-jamming tech, but for now, it spotlights the cat-and-mouse game between connectivity innovators and control-hungry regimes.

​Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.