According to research by Filterwatch using IODA data, local sources, and Filterwatch’s technical research, Sistan and Baluchestan province experienced over 5400 minutes of complete internet outages and around 300 minutes of intentional disruptions in 2023.
Filterwatch has also found evidence that for the first time, the technical arm responsible for internet cut-offs and disruptions in this province has been the Radio Communication Regulatory Authority.In response to a question by Amir Mojry, sent via the government transparency information system, about the documents and the reason for weekly internet disruptions in Zahedan city, the General Directorate of Communications and Information Technology of Sistan and Baluchestan stated that, “Zahedan’s weekly internet disruption is related to the regulatory organization.” This response was published on June 23, 2023.
اختلال هفتگی اینترنت زاهدان مربوط به سازمان تنظیم مقررات است.
این پاسخ را اداره کل ارتباطات و فناوری اطلاعات سیستان و بلوچستان داده است. pic.twitter.com/y2EATGevuE— Amir (@AmirMojiry) August 9, 2023
The Intercept reported in November 2022 about the development of a software system named “SIAM” by the Radio Communication Regulatory Authority, which has extensive capabilities for eavesdropping, spying, reducing speed, or even cutting off mobile internet users.
Given that the SIAM system is under the control and supervision of the Radio Communication Regulatory Authority, it can be concluded that at least one of the tools used by the government for internet cut-offs and disruptions in this city and province is this system.
This is the first time a semi-official response from a governmental body has been provided that can help identify the executive arm responsible for network cut-offs or disruptions.
Previously in 2019, Filterwatch wrote about which institution orders network cut-offs and disruptions, stating that internet outages occur by order of the National Security Council, but we had no evidence of the technical method of implementing these cut-offs and disruptions.
Deprivation from access to information technology services:
According to the website data of the Comprehensive Monitoring Portal of the Information Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was last updated in March 2023, Sistan and Baluchestan Province is evaluated as the most deprived province in Iran in terms of the penetration rate of information and communication technology services, with a score of 5.399. Simultaneously, it holds the highest share of intentional internet disruptions and outages.
Moreover, in the past year, following the Bloody Friday in Zahedan on September 30, 2022, the entire province, except on exceptional days such as June 2, June 16, and from July 21 to August 18, 2023, and several times in September 2023, experienced severe disruptions almost amounting to outages on the remaining Fridays.
The disruptions and outages in this province generally follow a specific pattern, such as a fixed time and day. Nonetheless, as of the writing of this report, none of the Iranian authorities have provided an explanation or response to these conditions.
Data collected by Filterban shows that in addition to Zahedan, other areas like Khash, Saravan, Iranshahr, and Zabol have been affected by these disruptions. These cities also experienced internet outages in 2020.
