The situation in Iran has escalated dramatically as internet connectivity has nearly vanished, coinciding with the ongoing military conflict with Israel. This alarming development has been reported by various web-monitoring organizations, highlighting the critical state of communication within the country.
Near-Total Internet Blackout Reported
According to NetBlocks, a prominent organization that monitors global internet access, Iran is currently experiencing what they describe as a “near-total national internet blackout.” This assessment has been corroborated by multiple other monitoring entities, indicating a widespread and severe disruption of online services.
Real-Time Monitoring Data Confirms Outage
Data from IODA, a system designed to track internet infrastructure connectivity in real-time, has shown a significant and sudden drop in internet access across Iran. This data is crucial for understanding the extent of the outage and its implications for the Iranian populace.
Significant Decrease in Internet Traffic
David Belson, a data insights expert from a leading internet infrastructure company, reported that internet traffic levels in Iran have plummeted to approximately 97% below the levels recorded just a week prior. This drastic decline underscores the severity of the situation and raises concerns about the potential impacts on communication and information dissemination.
Context of Military Conflict and Cyberattacks
The internet blackouts are occurring amidst a backdrop of military conflict between Iran and Israel, which has also seen a rise in cyberattacks targeting Iranian institutions. Reports indicate that Iranian banks and cryptocurrency exchanges have been compromised, leading to claims of a “massive cyber war” initiated by Israel. In response, Iranian officials have begun implementing restrictions on internet access to mitigate the impact of these attacks.
Uncertainty Surrounding the Cause of the Outage
Despite the significant drop in internet connectivity, the exact reasons behind this collapse remain unclear. Belson noted that in previous instances of similar outages, there was often a corresponding decrease in the visibility of the country’s networks on the internet. However, this pattern has not been observed in the current situation, leaving experts puzzled.
Expert Observations on the Situation
Other internet monitoring specialists, such as Doug Madory from Kentik, have also reported similar findings, indicating that numerous Iranian service providers have gone offline. This marks the second national internet blackout within a short span, with the current outage being more severe than the previous one.