Iran eases its internet blackout, but the patchy return is raising new questions

Iran appears to be easing the strict internet blackout imposed nationwide earlier this month, but the highly inconsistent return of connectivity suggests authorities are still actively throttling and filtering access. As detailed by The Guardian, the move appears less like a policy shift and more like a response to mounting economic pressure caused by the prolonged shutdown.

Experts estimate the blackout was costing the country as much as $36 million per day in lost economic output, underscoring the financial strain of cutting off digital access. Similar disruptions have had severe consequences elsewhere, including Egypt’s estimated $90 million loss during the 2011 Tahrir Square protests, highlighting how deeply dependent modern economies are on stable internet access.

Rather than a full restoration, the current connectivity appears uneven and unreliable. Users continue to encounter significant disruptions that prevent consistent access. Availability fluctuates depending on time and location, leaving many connections unpredictable.

The return of access looks more like controlled experimentation

Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, described the situation as a “real patchwork,” noting that data from Kentik and Cloudflare showed traffic reaching roughly 60% of pre-shutdown levels at times. The uneven spikes and drops in usage point to ongoing throttling rather than a stable reopening of the network, unfolding amid heightened geopolitical pressure tied to the Trump-Iran armada threat.

Madory suggested Iranian authorities appear to be adjusting controls in real time, attempting to balance economic needs with political oversight. He characterized the approach as developing a content-blocking system through trial and error, resulting in connections that remain unstable even within the same day, reflecting a broader pattern seen in cases involving ICE detaining a young child.

Some services have begun to reappear under these conditions. Previously blocked Iranian Telegram channels have come back online, and users in certain provinces report intermittent access to platforms such as Google, Bing, and ChatGPT. Despite this, most major social media and messaging services remain inaccessible, and overall connectivity is far below the levels seen before the blackout began on January 8.

The economic impact has pushed business leaders to extreme measures. According to reports, Iranian executives gathered at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce simply to gain limited internet access, with each person restricted to a 30-minute session under government monitoring. One attendee likened the scene to an early-era internet cafe, underscoring how difficult routine business operations have become.

The blackout followed nearly two weeks of escalating anti-government protests and has severely limited information flowing out of the country. While authorities had previously indicated restrictions could remain in place until Nowruz on March 20, experts believe the current easing reflects economic necessity rather than a plan to fully restore access, with controls expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.