Elon Musk activated Starlink’s satellites above Iran and provided uncensored internet access to the country. This happens now because the US took long time to allow private companies to offer uncensored internet access to Iran.
The billionaire does this after he already provided internet access to Ukraine amid its Russian invasion. The Ukrainians were facing issues with communication during the war because Russia targets the means of communication as a priority. However, Elon Musk managed to help the Ukrainian military on a great scale after providing Starlink to the whole territory of Ukraine.
Why Is Elon Musk Providing Starlink Internet To Iran? What Will Starlink Mean To Iran?
We all know that Elon Musk claims to be an active ‘fighter’ against censorship. His low Earth orbit satellite network is a pioneer in the satellite high-bandwidth internet connection directly from space to individual users. As the connection to the internet is via a satellite, Elon Musk allows Starlink users to bypass the internet censorship in their country and browse a censorship-free internet.
The initial connection to the Starlink internet is a bit of a struggle. The connection is not possible with a simple cable and a router. When buying a Starlink internet package, the company supplies you with a special terminal. It consists of a 20-inch satellite dish, shipped in two pizza-like boxes and a ‘router’.
Starlink’s internet connection is spreading around the world. When you look at the satellite mapping, it looks like there are Starlink satellites around the whole Earth. However, there are some places where the service is still unavailable. These places are Iran, Cuba, and several more countries where the US has implemented sanctions.
Last week, Elon Musk explained that he is eager to provide them with Starlink if the government is willing to lift up the sanctions.
“Obviously, the Iranian government is not going to approve it.” – Musk told Financial Times. “It would require somebody actually buying a terminal and smuggling it into Iran, but they’d be taking a risk because the government won’t be pleased with that.”
At least 40 people have died in recent protests in Iran after a woman failing to wear a hijab has been killed by the government in prison. This enraged the Iranian people and they are on the streets for more than a week. At the same time, the Iranian government has forbidden access to Instagram and WhatsApp in Iran.
To bypass all of this, Iranians are looking for an alternative internet connection. And what better alternative than Starlink? Karim Sadjadpour is a person working at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He said that Elon Musk claims that “Starlink is now active in Iran. If anyone can get terminals into Iran, they will work”.
The US government had relaxed its sanctions on Iran. This means that now, finally, US internet service and communication networks can operate in Iran.
The tech giants in the US are finally allowed to provide secure platforms and services in Iran. They are allowed to send their private satellite internet equipment, including Elon Musk’s Starlink service kit.
The National Security Council, the US Treasury, and other US official institutions have urged Elon Musk to provide Stalink to Teheran.
“We encourage all methods of expanding and sustaining internet access in Iran.” – one of the officials said. “We are broadly supportive of the private sector helping Iranians connect and we are taking our own steps to help.”
Foreign Assets Control Office, at the US Treasury, is pushing the prioritization of applications for specific licenses or permissions for businesses related to internet freedom in Iran.
“If SpaceX were to determine that some activity aimed at Iranians requires a specific license, Ofac would welcome it and prioritize it. By the same token, if SpaceX determines that its activity is already authorized and has any questions, Ofac also welcomes that engagement.” – an official from the Treasury says.
However, the Treasury officials are doubtful. that their permission will be enough for Starlink to activate its full potential in Iran.
“What a lot of this was geared towards is for Iranians to get access to the VPNs. Things like that, to tunnel out. Making sure that platforms are available for them to communicate.” – Brian O’Toole said. He is a former senior adviser on sanctions at the US Treasury.
At the moment there are two options for continuing and installing Starlink in Iran. The first option is ‘smuggling’ Starlink equipment into the country illegally. This is not really an option for mass supplies. And the second option is to sit and talk with the Iranian government.
“In broad terms, you can expect anything that has a real intersection with the Iranian government would probably need a specific license.” – Brian O’Toole added.
Back to the reason behind the ‘forcing’ of implementation of Starlink connection in Iran. As I already explained, Iran has an advanced internet censorship program. This is not allowing them access to some basic internet platforms. However, this is not a great problem. The country is using an advanced censorship policy. They censor everyone and everything that is not ‘spreading’ the same ‘fake news’ as they are. Giving Iranians uncensored Internet access will boost their access to information. It will allow them to read independent news, and hear independent thoughts. Finally, it will wake them up and make them realize what their government is doing to them.
Again, this is not solely a philanthropical move by Elon Musk. Expanding his network all around the world is his primary goal. Including countries in which the US has sanctions will give him whole world coverage with Starlink’s connection. This means, if you own a Starlink kit, you’ll be able to connect to uncensored internet wherever you are. And this means that in order to gain access to it, you’ll need to subscribe to it.