Iran's Internet Blackout Hits Record 45 Days as 90 Million People Pushed Onto State Network

Iran's internet blackout has entered its 45th consecutive day, setting a new record according to internet monitoring group NetBlocks. With the nation's 90 million citizens cut off from the global internet amid ongoing conflict, the Iranian government has pushed its population onto the state-controlled National Information Network — a domestic intranet the government calls the "halal internet."

A Record-Breaking Digital Shutdown

Iran has previously imposed internet blackouts during periods of unrest, but those typically lasted hours or days. The current shutdown, now at 45 days and counting per the Financial Times, is unprecedented in duration for a country of Iran's size. NetBlocks, which tracks global internet connectivity, has confirmed sustained near-total disruption to international internet access across the country. The blackout is directly tied to the ongoing military conflict that has escalated in recent months.

The National Information Network Takes Over

The Iranian government has spent years building its National Information Network (NIN), a domestic internet that operates independently of the global web. The NIN hosts state-approved news, government services, domestic social media alternatives, and Persian-language content. With the global internet cut off, Iranians are now entirely dependent on this government-controlled infrastructure — a scenario privacy and human rights advocates have long warned about as a tool of information control.

Impact on Iranian Society and Business

The prolonged blackout is having severe consequences for Iranian civil society, businesses, and ordinary citizens. Entrepreneurs who relied on international platforms for commerce, communication, and payment processing are effectively frozen out of the global economy. Journalists and activists have been cut off from secure communication tools. Families separated by borders cannot easily connect. Iranian businesses with international ties face enormous operational disruptions.

Global Reactions and Information Access

Human rights organizations and press freedom groups have condemned the blackout as one of the most severe acts of digital repression ever documented. VPN usage inside Iran had surged before the blackout, and some citizens continue to access restricted content through smuggled devices and unofficial networks. International satellite internet services like Starlink could theoretically provide a workaround, but the Iranian government has moved to block satellite terminals as well.

The Bottom Line

Iran's 45-day internet blackout is a stark reminder of how governments can weaponize digital infrastructure during conflict. As 90 million people are forced onto a state-controlled network, the line between communications policy and information warfare has blurred completely. The situation in Iran should serve as a warning to the global community about the fragility of internet freedom in authoritarian contexts.