Iranian authorities are moving forward with plans to permanently seal the country off from the global internet, according to digital rights monitors tracking the ongoing blackout that began January 8. The shutdown, now in its second week, is part of a broader strategy to create what officials call a "Barracks Internet"—a state-controlled network that would limit most citizens to a narrower domestic system while keeping international connectivity restricted to a select few vetted individuals.
The permanent isolation plan represents a significant escalation from previous internet shutdowns in Iran. Rather than temporary blackouts imposed during periods of unrest, authorities are now implementing infrastructure changes designed to make disconnection from the global internet a lasting feature of life in Iran.
Background
Iran has a history of internet restrictions tied to political instability. During the 2009 anti-regime protests, authorities imposed a wholesale internet shutdown that proved costly and difficult to maintain. That experience prompted officials to begin planning a more permanent solution starting in 2012, according to digital rights researchers.
The current blackout was triggered on January 8 as nationwide protests escalated. The demonstrations, which began on December 28, have grown into a mass movement with demonstrators calling for fundamental changes to Iran's government. Authorities responded with a near-total internet shutdown that has been described as the most severe in the country's history.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed that the blackout would continue at least until March 20, coinciding with the Iranian new year. However, internal plans suggest authorities intend to make the isolation permanent.
Key Details
The "Barracks Internet" project involves transforming Iran's entire digital infrastructure under control of Khatam al-Anbia, the joint command base of Iran's armed forces. Several concrete steps have already been taken to implement this plan.
Authorities have begun collecting satellite dishes from citizens and blocking Starlink terminals, cutting off alternative means of accessing the global internet. The government has also jammed GPS signals to disrupt Starlink connections, with some areas experiencing packet loss of up to 80 percent. Foreign telecommunications companies have quietly departed the country, and the CEO of Irancell, a major Iranian communications firm, was dismissed after being accused of delaying orders to cut connectivity.
"The internet is viewed as an enemy by the Iranian government which seeks to control and suppress it," according to cybersecurity expert Amir Rashidi.
The blackout has extended beyond internet access to affect telephone services as well. Authorities have disabled mobile network antennas, cut phone lines, limited high-volume data transmission, and deactivated SIM cards belonging to activists and dissidents. Officials attribute these disruptions to power outages or outdated equipment rather than deliberate censorship.
Economic impact
The shutdown has created severe economic damage across Iran. Private postal company Tipax saw daily shipments drop from approximately 32,000 to fewer than a few hundred following the complete internet shutdown. This collapse in service has resulted in direct job losses for thousands of drivers and warehouse workers across the country. The blackout threatens to worsen the economic concerns that originally sparked the protests.
International coordination
Reports from January 14 indicate that the government is finalizing an internet kill switch project in coordination with Huawei and China. This project is designed to allow authorities to cut the nation completely off from the global internet for extended periods whenever they choose.
What This Means
The permanent isolation plan raises serious concerns about the future of digital communication in Iran. If implemented as described, most Iranian citizens would lose access to the global internet entirely, with only government-approved individuals receiving filtered and censored access.
Human rights organizations have warned that the current blackout is being used to mask the extent of violent repression during the protests. The internet shutdown itself is considered a serious human rights violation, preventing citizens from communicating with the outside world and limiting documentation of government actions.
The plan also reflects a broader shift in how the Iranian government approaches information control. Rather than managing internet access during crises, authorities are building permanent infrastructure designed to keep the country digitally isolated. This represents a fundamental change in how citizens will be able to access information and communicate internationally.
Digital rights experts have described the possibility of permanent internet isolation as "plausible and terrifying." The implementation of such a system would make Iran one of the most digitally isolated nations in the world, with consequences extending far beyond politics into economics, education, and basic human communication.
