Elon Musk has shared that his company’s Starlink satellite internet has been activated in Iran. The development comes after Tehran shut down internet access following the attacks from Israel. SpaceX’s satellite broadband seeks to ensure that people are able to stay connected even if traditional cellular infrastructure is restricted from operating.
It’s suggested that Tehran implemented an internet blackout to avoid any possible rebellion. Musk succinctly wrote, “The beams are on,” which meant that the company’s low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite service was accessible in the Asian country.
In the meantime, Iran’s communication ministry shared that the internet restriction was temporary and would be restored once things are restored back to normal.
Musk to the internet restoration
At the moment, Iran is at loggerheads with Israel, with both launching massive-scale attacks into each other’s strategic regions. It’s likely that by force or without, the internet has been impacted. Broadband access, though, becomes even more important in such risky times. People can use the internet to access the latest updates and information, which can potentially be life-saving. Also, the internet is seen as an essential service in today’s digital age.
Thanks to Starlink or Elon Musk, he has “turned on the beams” to switch on broadband access during such volatile times. For now, despite the Iranian government stating that it will restore the internet only when things get back to normal, those who can afford it can still access satellite internet connected to the satellite constellations in the sky.
Also: Starlink gets Pakistan approval for Starlink internet
It’s not an isolated move by Elon Musk to bring internet connectivity to a war-torn zone. Earlier, he also had Starlink broadband activated in Ukraine after Russian attacks affected the country’s broadband infrastructure.
As of June 2025, Stalrink has 6,750 satellites, and its service is available in at least 75 countries.