Iran Approves $11 Limited Internet Plan After 80-Day Shutdown
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · May 23
Iran Approves $11 Limited Internet Plan After 80-Day Shutdown
2 articles · Updated · DW (English) · May 23
Iran's National Security Council approved "Internet Pro," a paid package giving selected business and tech users 50 gigabytes of foreign internet access while the broader shutdown remains in place.
The government says the plan is meant to keep economic activity and business communications running during crisis conditions after more than 80 days of near-total internet restrictions.
Major platforms including Instagram, X and YouTube still remain inaccessible for many users without VPNs, and access is tied to national ID and registered mobile numbers.
Critics say the move turns internet access into a privilege: students, many women earning income online and other excluded groups remain cut off as inflation tops 50% and the rial weakens.
The shutdown, imposed after U.S. and Israeli attacks on February 28, is Iran's longest yet, even as President Masoud Pezeshkian has recently promised service will be restored soon.
Is Iran's paid internet saving its economy or creating a permanent digital underclass amid a nationwide blackout?
Is Iran's internet blackout a wartime security measure or a digital curtain to hide a surge in state executions?
86 Days Offline: Iran’s Nationwide Internet Shutdown, “Internet Pro” Scheme, and the Cost of Digital Isolation
Overview
Since February 28, 2026, Iran has faced a nationwide internet shutdown, cutting millions off from the digital economy and global communication. The government introduced 'Internet Pro,' an expensive alternative with high fees, while ordinary internet remains heavily restricted. Many Iranians now rely on VPNs to access the global web. The shutdown has disrupted scientific and research communication, and experts agree it has caused more harm than protection. This situation highlights the government's focus on control over connectivity, leading to economic damage, social isolation, and growing concerns about the future of internet access in Iran.