Iranians began to regain Internet access on Wednesday after authorities ended a monthslong shutdown, but users reported slow and spotty service in some areas. Apps like YouTube and Instagram remain heavily restricted, as they were before the cutoff began during nationwide protests in January.
Authorities Justify Shutdown as Military Necessity
Authorities justified the outage as a military imperative after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. The decision to lift some restrictions this week coincided with negotiators appearing close to a more permanent truce. However, many Iranians fear access could be cut off again at a moment's notice.
Internet Connectivity and Traffic Levels
Internet tracking company Netblocks reported that Iran's connectivity is at around 86 percent of pre-cutoff capacity. Internet analysis firm Kentik indicated that traffic, a measure of data transfer, was at approximately 40 percent of normal levels. Amir Rashidi, an Iranian cybersecurity analyst, noted widespread disruptions, stating, "It's too early to say the shutdown is over."
Unprecedented Shutdown Impact
Iran's roughly 90 million people have been cut off from the Internet for most of 2026, one of the world's longest and strictest national shutdowns. Young people with online careers saw their incomes evaporate, and job losses and closure of online businesses added to the war's economic costs. The cutoff made communication difficult for families during months of unrest and war. At times, phone lines were also cut off but later restored.
A woman in Tehran said she could barely speak to her sons abroad for months. She expressed disbelief that authorities restored access, assuming they would find justification to prolong the outage. A taxi driver reported weak service and hoped for improvement to use messaging apps with family and friends. Both spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
Price Surge During Shutdown
Internet prices spiked during the shutdown, with residents in Tehran paying around $7.50 per gigabyte. Prices have since dropped to about $2.25 for 30 gigabytes, similar to pre-protest levels. Even before the shutdown, Iran tightly controlled access to popular social media sites, leading many to rely on virtual private networks (VPNs). The cost of these workarounds soared during the shutdown, making them unaffordable for many as the economy suffered.
Slow Return to Service
Businesses have started reappearing online, announcing their return on platforms like Instagram and Telegram. A gamer and tech influencer in Isfahan said the shutdown caused him to lose much of his audience on YouTube and Instagram, where he spent years building a following. "All my views and interactions are way down. I've been erased from the algorithm," he said, adding that his connection is still slower than before. Many content producers have seen their income reduced to zero, moved to other jobs, or sold equipment to survive. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
Government Justification and Criticism
Iranian authorities first shut down the Internet in January during mass anti-government protests that were eventually suppressed in a violent crackdown, resulting in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands detained. The cutoff was easing when the government imposed a complete blackout after US and Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader and other top officials. The prolonged shutdown faced criticism for harming an economy already devastated by inflation, strikes on key industries, and a US blockade on Iranian ports.
Afshin Kolahi, a member of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, estimated the Internet cutoff cost $30-40 million daily, with indirect losses likely double that. Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi noted that about 10 million people have jobs dependent on Internet connectivity. Iranians still had access to a national net, but it had far narrower reach, with users complaining of poor service and heavy censorship. Senior government officials were given SIM cards granting global Internet access, and under pressure, the government expanded access to some professions during the shutdown.
