Starlink CEO Elon Musk has provided free Starlink services in Iran after the Islamic Republic's government cut off internet access after protests among protesters grew.
According to an AP media report, although some communication systems were given flexibility by the government and people were able to make phone calls yesterday, internet access remained cut off for most of the population.
As of yesterday, 2,000 people were reported to have been killed and more than 10,000 people were detained in Iran following the protests.
Previously, Musk announced that he had provided similar access in Venezuela after the country was attacked by the United States (US) and President Nicolas Maduro was detained.
Meanwhile, SpaceX was also reported to be waiving Starlink subscription fees to Iranians for a limited period, thus allowing those who own Starlink terminals to stay connected despite the ongoing power outages.
According to a Bloomberg report, the power outage that began on January 8 has paralyzed almost all fiber optic and mobile internet services, causing the usage rate to drop to only 1%.
However, Iranian authorities have labeled Starlink as illegal, and will enforce legal action, making its use and distribution a crime.
The effectiveness of Starlink services in Iran is still facing major challenges as the Tehran government is now actively trying to block satellite signals and impose strict legal restrictions.
