NBC – January 15, 2026
By: Kevin Collier and Bruna Horvath
“As Iran’s national internet blackout stretches to its second week, the satellite internet service Starlink has become a crucial lifeline for many citizens to connect with the outside world — and one that the government appears to be trying to shut down.
“That’s pushing some Iranians to get creative with how they use the service.
…
“One activist group that has worked to get Starlink terminals into the country, NetFreedom Pioneers, showed how laborious the process can be.
“The group has raised nearly $50,000 on GoFundMe since June 2025, with recent donations surging alongside the protests. Though terminals generally range in cost from between $300 and $600, the group said in November that it had delivered 17 Starlink kits to people in Iran between June and September, at a cost of more than $18,000 to cover devices, subscriptions and the logistics to get them into the country.”
Read the full article at NBC News.