Sistan and Baluchestan is not only among Iran’s most underdeveloped regions economically and socially but also tops the charts in digital suppression and censorship. Despite having fewer communication facilities compared to more developed areas, even these limited resources are frequently crippled by government-imposed internet shutdowns. Often, especially during peak protest periods, residents find themselves entirely cut off from the outside world.
Moreover, this region has become a testing ground for new restrictive systems—some possibly being trialed extensively for the first time. One such system is SIAM, utilized by Iran’s Regulatory Authority under the Ministry of Communications. SIAM’s capabilities include slowing down or completely cutting off internet access in specific geographical areas.
According to a report by Filterwatch, an organization advocating for digital rights and internet access, there is evidence suggesting that the SIAM system has been deployed in Sistan and Baluchestan.
A Province Left Behind
Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran’s second-largest province located in the southeast, is considered one of the most deprived and underdeveloped regions due to multiple and often complex reasons. Development researchers highlight numerous infrastructural problems, noting that underdevelopment in education, healthcare, economy, and technical and communication facilities has long plagued the province, severely impacting the lives of its citizens.
Natural disasters exacerbate these challenges. Monsoon rains, torrential floods, persistent droughts, and storms have collectively disrupted the normal course of life for residents. Compounding these issues are government policies centered on “minoritization,” ethnic and religious discrimination, and the “securitization” of the province—factors contributing to the compounded oppression of the local population.
In terms of communications and digital technology, the province fares no better. Government statistics reveal that household computer access in Sistan and Baluchestan is about 22% below the national average. While there are 13 fixed broadband subscribers per 100 people nationally, the province has just 3—a staggering 75% below the national average.
The “Seventh Layer” podcast, in its latest episode, delves into the state of internet access in Sistan and Baluchestan. Through data analysis, firsthand accounts, and interviews with locals and activists, the podcast explores the multifaceted oppression experienced by residents in information technology and internet access.
Internet Blackouts and Their Consequences
Following the “Zahedan Bloody Friday” on September 30, 2022, attention increasingly focused on the province’s internet issues as authorities implemented internet shutdowns every Friday. The situation worsened with continued declines in internet quality, underscoring the region’s digital plight.
In May 2023, 23 organizations and four human rights activists, alongside the international coalition “Keep It On”—comprising several groups active in information and internet access—called for immediate attention to the ongoing human rights violations resulting from repeated internet shutdowns in Sistan and Baluchestan.
A portion of their joint statement read: “This ongoing disruption has led to significant challenges for the local community, which heavily relies on online communications for their daily activities.”
Statistics paint a grim picture. In the first half of 2023, Iran experienced 14 instances of restrictions, severe disruptions, and intentional internet shutdowns—all reported in Zahedan and other cities within Sistan and Baluchestan. From December 2022 to April 2024, over 165 widespread disruptions occurred nationwide, with 50% in provinces inhabited by ethnic minorities. Astonishingly, 90% of these disruptions took place in Sistan and Baluchestan.
Filterwatch’s investigations—using IODA data, local sources, and technical analyses—revealed that in 2023 alone, Sistan and Baluchestan endured over 5,400 minutes of complete internet blackouts and approximately 300 minutes of intentional disruptions.
Voices from the Ground
Shirahmad Shirani, a Baloch activist from the Hal Vash website, told “Seventh Layer” that the government aimed to quell protests by shutting down the internet, hoping “to prevent the reflection and aftermath of events.” However, he noted, “The creativity of the people and media activists allowed voices to be heard outside despite the internet blackout.”
The shutdowns have devastated local economies, particularly home-based businesses. According to local reports and interviews conducted by “Seventh Layer,” many women engaged in traditional needlework—a primary occupation in the province—relied on social networks like Instagram to sell their products and receive orders from other parts of Iran and abroad.
One such woman shared her experience: following the internet blackout after Zahedan’s Bloody Friday, many lost their regular customers. She recounted the tragic story of a fellow needleworker with a child battling cancer. “There were job offers; I sent sample works to help her. The customer in Tehran placed orders via the internet. But after the events of Bloody Friday, I lost contact with the customer. The woman had no money left, and perhaps if that money had reached her, she could have kept her child alive a bit longer.”
Connectivity Challenges and Government Control
Statistics confirm that many areas in Sistan and Baluchestan lack even basic landline telephone access. In parts of Zahedan, the provincial capital, internet signals are so weak that residents must climb nearby hills or elevated areas to use their mobile phones.
The Iranian government, seeking greater control over the internet for security and political reasons—especially in regions like Sistan and Baluchestan—employs the SIAM system. Developed domestically by the Ministry of Communications, one of SIAM’s features is downgrading user access to 2G networks.
According to a Filterwatch report and a 2022 study published in The Intercept, the SIAM system provides the government with capabilities such as eavesdropping, surveillance, and tracking.
For many locals engaged in “fuel carrying”—transporting fuel across borders—communication is vital. They rely on WhatsApp groups to share information about better routes, movement patterns, and weather changes. However, internet disruptions have had deadly consequences. In March 2024, during a flood in the province, fuel carriers were unaware of weather conditions across the border due to the lack of internet. As a result, 20 individuals lost their lives.
The Digital Divide Deepens
Adding to these woes are issues like the high cost of internet access, expensive VPNs, and the prohibitive price of smartphones—all contributing to the region’s digital divide. In an era when nearly every administrative and official task in Iran requires internet access, computers, and smartphones, residents face numerous obstacles in performing even the most routine daily activities.
The compounded effect of infrastructural neglect, deliberate digital suppression, and socio-economic hardships underscores the urgent need for attention and action to address the plight of Sistan and Baluchestan’s residents.
