SpaceX, the U.S. space and internet company run by Elon Musk, is now giving free Starlink internet service to people in Iran while the country’s government continues to block internet access. This move comes as Iranians take to the streets in large protests and face one of the longest and strictest internet shutdowns in the nation’s history.
Since January 8, 2026, the Iranian government has shut down most local mobile data, telephone networks, and regular internet connections. This was done to stop people from sharing videos and messages about protests with the world. The blackout has made it very hard for Iranians to communicate with people outside the country to update them about what is happening inside the Iran.
In response to this communication blackout, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet has been made free for users inside Iran who have the equipment. This means that people with Starlink receivers do not have to pay subscription fee to connect to the internet via Starlink’s network of satellites.

Starlink normally charges users for monthly access, but a technology nonprofit group called Holistic Resilience said the company has removed those fees so that people can get online during this blackout. Users only need a working Starlink dish pointed at the sky to connect.
Starlink is a network of low-Earth orbit satellites that can provide internet service nearly anywhere on the planet. Many rights groups and tech experts say it has helped people in countries where the internet was very restricted before. Even in difficult situations, Starlink has given people a way to talk, send messages, and share videos.
However, the situation in Iran is dangerous for people using Starlink equipment. The Iranian government has banned Starlink and other foreign satellite internet devices inside the country, and authorities have been trying to find and jam these signals. Many devices have been brought into Iran secretly over the past few years, and thousands are estimated to be in use, even though the government says they are illegal.
Some users have taken extra steps to hide their Starlink antennas, such as disguising them or moving them around so they are not easily seen by security forces. still, the government has used drones and other tools to try to locate them and stop their internet connections.
Even with these risks, for many Iranians, Starlink has become one of the only ways to connect to the outside world. When traditional internet services are cut, satellite internet can carry messages, photos, and videos to friends, families, and news outlets in other countries. Many people say this free access has helped bring more attention to the protests and the government’s response.
SpaceX and Elon Musk have not officially confirmed their move in public statements, and the company has not responded to requests for comment. But reports from experts and Iranians on the ground suggest that Starlink’s free access is already helping some people stay connected.