Internet connectivity in Iran fell sharply as authorities restricted access during a wave of economic protests, with multiple reports describing a widening “digital blackout” across Tehran and beyond. Network monitors cited by several outlets reported a steep drop in Iran’s mobile-oriented IPv6 availability and traffic, consistent with targeted throttling rather than a single cable or data-center failure. The connectivity disruptions have unfolded alongside reports of an escalating crackdown, including mounting casualties reported by a rights group.

Highlights:

• Measurement signals: Cloudflare Radar reported Iran’s IPv6 address space fell 98.5% while IPv6 traffic share dropped from 12% to 1.8%, a pattern it linked to selective access blocks affecting mobile infrastructure.
• Watchdog confirmation: NetBlocks said live network data showed Tehran and other areas “entering a digital blackout,” and later described conditions as a nationwide internet blackout.
• Stated purpose: PCMag characterized the shutdown as another instance of the Iranian government using internet access restrictions to suppress demonstrations.
• Parallel outages: The Register also noted outages affecting Russia and Ukraine while reporting on Iran’s disruption, indicating broader regional instability in connectivity around the same period.
• Protest trajectory: An Iran Human Rights report said the protest movement began in late December and described Wednesday as the bloodiest day, with 13 protesters confirmed killed that day among at least 45 deaths overall.

Perspectives:

• NetBlocks: The internet disruption reflected an escalating sequence of censorship steps and amounted to a nationwide blackout according to its live metrics. (Insider Paper)
• Cloudflare Radar: Telemetry showed a sharp contraction in Iran’s IPv6 reachability and traffic share during the disruption, suggesting selective blocking that heavily impacts mobile connectivity. (Slashdot)
• Iran Human Rights (NGO): The NGO reported at least 45 protesters killed since late December, including eight minors, during the security response to demonstrations. (Insider Paper)
• Protesters (as reported): Crowds in Tehran chanted slogans against Iran’s political system and supreme leader amid intensified demonstrations. (NDTV)

Sources:

• Internet collapses in Iran amid protests over economic crisis - reddit.com
• Iran Cuts Internet Access Across the Country Over Widespread Protests - pcmag.com
• Iran quits the internet, no word on which Fark Headline was the final straw [Scary] - fark.com
• Iran in 'Digital Blackout' as Tehran Throttles Mobile Internet Access - slashdot.org
• Watchdog reports ‘nationwide internet blackout’ in Iran as protests mount - insiderpaper.com
• Iran’s internet goes dark amid mass protests, reports of violent government response - theregister.com
• "Death To Dictator, Death To Islamic Republic": Fresh Protests In Iran - ndtv.com