Author Archives: Amir Rashidi

While no major disruptions were observed in September, a number of smaller disruptions affected Iranian internet users, including users reporting localised mobile data disruptions in the south of Iran, including in Hormozgan province, and the districts of Konarak and Zarabad in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Overall Situation This month, Filterwatch received several reports of InternetContinue reading “Network Monitor – September 2021”

Overall Situation Recent months have seen Iranians facing a number of protracted challenges accessing the global Internet – including localised shutdowns in Yasuj and Khuzestan, and disruptions due to power outages. By contrast, there were relatively few noteworthy disruptions in August. Any disruptions that the Filterwatch team did observe appeared to last for only aContinue reading “Network Monitor – August 2021”

Mobile Data Shutdown in Khuzestan On the evening of July 15, reports emerged of protests breaking out in a number of cities across the southwestern Province of Khuzestan, due to an ongoing water crisis in the province. Protestors were met with a violent crackdown from the authorities. At least eight people have been killed accordingContinue reading “Network Monitor – July 2021”

  Mobile Internet Cut Off in Yasuj On June 20, mobile data was cut off for almost the entire day via Irancell and MCI in Yasuj, the provincial capital of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province. The localised shutdown was in response to a clash between two local tribes in relation to the results of local cityContinue reading “Network Monitor – June 2021”

In May, Iran suffered from several nationwide power outages, which contributed to a series of network disruptions throughout the month. According to Arash Karimbeigi, CEO of the major Iranian ISP Shatel, the power outages meant that mobile operators struggled to provide power for crucial communications infrastructure, including Base Transceiver Station (BTS) antennas. This report makesContinue reading “Network Monitor – May 2021”

March saw fewer major, targeted internet disruptions than February, when users in Sistan and Baluchestan Province experienced an extended province-wide internet shutdown. However, Iranian internet users did experience continued periods of network instability throughout this month, as well as low-speed connections. In response to user complaints about its services, the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI)Continue reading “Network Monitor – March 2021”

February was a difficult month for Iranian internet users, with multiple network disruptions. The most significant incident was a complete shutdown of mobile data services across Sistan and Baluchestan Province between 24-27 February, in response to local anti-government protests. However, further disruptions took place earlier in the month, predominantly affecting users’ access to Instagram. ThisContinue reading “Network Monitor – February 2021”

Following repeated disruptions to Instagram’s services in Iran in December 2020, in January it was the turn of the messaging app Signal to face the heat. The end-to-end encrypted messaging app surged in global popularity following the announcement of changes to WhatsApp’s privacy policy, seemingly triggering a response from Iranian authorities. The app was filteredContinue reading “Network Monitor – January 2021”