Elon Musk says around 100 Starlinks now active in Iran

Elon Musk has said that his SpaceX company is now close to having 100 active Starlinks in Iran to help protesters access the internet amid government restrictions in light of ongoing protests.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

27 December, 2022

Starlinks could help Iranians circumvent the government's restrictions on accessing the internet [Getty/archive]

SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Monday that the company is now close to having 100 active Starlinks, the firm's satellite internet service, in Iran, three months after he tweeted he would activate the service there amid protests around the Islamic country.

Musk said, "approaching 100 starlinks active in Iran", in a tweet on Monday.

Approaching 100 Starlinks active in Iran
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 26, 2022

The billionaire had said in September that he would activate Starlink in Iran as part of a U.S.-backed effort "to advance internet freedom and the free flow of information" to Iranians.

The satellite-based broadband service could help Iranians circumvent the government's restrictions on accessing the internet and certain social media platforms amid protests around the country.

Iran has been engulfed in protests that erupted after the death in September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody after being arrested by the morality police for wearing "unsuitable attire".

(Reuters)