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Starlink Activated in Iran

takyon writes:

Elon Musk activates Starlink for Iranian citizens after US Sec of State issued a General License

Elon Musk announced that he was activating Starlink in response to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's tweet announcing the issuing of a General License to provide the Iranian people with access to digital communications.

"We took action today to advance Internet freedom and the free flow of information for the Iranian people, issuing a General License to provide them greater access to digital communications to counter the Iranian government's censorship," Secretary Blinken said.

Currently, in Iran, massive protests are happening as a result of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police for her head scarf not being properly worn. Although she had no known heart-related health problems, the police said she suddenly died of heart failure.

[...] Elon also responded, "OK," to @agusantonetti who asked if he could do the same for other countries under a dictatorship such as Cuba.

Has some entity been gathering Starlink terminals and smuggling them into Iran in the weeks or months prior to this announcement?

See also: U.S. Treasury Issues Iran General License D-2 to Increase Support for Internet Freedom
Musk says he will activate Starlink amid Iran protests
Starlink Benefit "Literally Zero" For Iranian Protestors Says Expert
Iran protests: UK and Norwegian ambassadors summoned over 'interference'

Previously: Starlink Will Ask for Exemption to Iran Sanctions, Says Musk

Related: Ukraine Asks Musk for Starlink Terminals as Russian Invasion Disrupts Broadband
Russia May Have Just Put Elon Musk's Starlink on Notice

Iran Restricts Internet Access

takyon writes:

Iran restricts internet as Mahsa Amini protest deaths mount and UN calls for investigation

Iranian authorities say they will restrict internet access in the country until calm is restored to the streets, as protests over the death of a young woman in the custody of the morality police rock the Islamic Republic.

[...] Speaking with state broadcaster IRIB on Friday, Iran's Minister of Communications Ahmad Vahidi said, "Until the riots end, the internet will have limitations. To prevent riot organization through social media, we are obliged to create internet limitations."

Vahidi's comments came after videos on social media showed scenes of public defiance, with women removing and burning their headscarves and demonstrators chanting such slogans as, "women, life, freedom."

The move to further restrict the internet also followed a call by the United Nations for an independent investigation into Amini's death and for Iran's security forces to refrain from using "disproportionate force" on the protesters.

Also at BBC.

Starlink speeds have slowed as more people sign up, report shows

upstart writes:

News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations:

Starlink, the SpaceX satellite internet service, has had a busy year, expanding into new countries and continents – and even onto boats and RVs. However, Starlink's growing customer base is having an impact on its performance.

According to a new report from Ookla, a network intelligence firm, Starlink's speeds decreased across the globe in the second quarter of 2022 in correspondence with more users signing up for the service. In fact, Starlink speeds decreased in every country Ookla surveyed, across Europe, Oceania, North America and South America.

Median download speeds for Starlink fell across Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, dropping between 9% and 54% from Q2 2021 to Q2 2022. In the US, Starlink's median download speed in Q2 hit just over 62 Mbps – that's more than sufficient for one or two people to stream videos or download games. However, a year prior, download speeds in the US were closer to 90 Mbps.

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