How Much Does Starlink Internet Cost in Iran and Is It Worth It?

The increasing demand for Starlink internet has heated its underground market in Iran to the point where suppliers are reportedly facing shortages of devices. Radio Farda's investigations show that the confirmed price from a Starlink service seller in Iran for version two devices is about 68 million tomans and for version three devices about 72 million tomans. Meanwhile, the Starlink website states that the official cost of each internet receiver device is 599 dollars, with a basic monthly subscription fee of 120 dollars. The price of using Starlink in Iran is nearly double the company's original rate, yet it appears to still be economically viable for many. Starlink devices are typically smuggled into Iran through the western borders, and thus do not have official after-sales service. Although the price of home internet (via telephone cable) in Iran, with speeds of 16 to 30 megabits, is much cheaper than Starlink, the quality and speed of Starlink internet can reach up to 170 megabits in basic mode, making it comparable only to fiber optic internet. According to the proposed prices from a fiber optic internet provider in Iran, the cost of 10 meters of fiber optic cabling is about 1 million and 500 thousand tomans. The more extensive the required length, the higher the cost. Other services and installation costs are calculated separately. The price for 420 gigabytes of traffic is also reported to be 420 thousand tomans. The total cost of smuggled Starlink in Iran is still higher than the official fiber optic price, but the advantage of using unfiltered and uninterrupted internet has gradually helped this service find its customers. A Starlink internet user in Tehran told Radio Farda that they recently purchased a Starlink device from a satellite installer for 72 million tomans. They said, 'This type of service was purchased to bypass internet filtering for the residents of a residential complex, and all the residents of the building, which consists of four families, are satisfied with the experience of using unfiltered and uninterrupted internet.' The most significant advantages of satellite internet are 'unfiltered free access' and 'high speed'; features that are not easily accessible to users in Iran, a country ranked at the bottom of the 'internet freedom ranking.' Accordingly, Starlink services are an attractive choice for users who need high-speed and unfiltered internet. Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, first announced the activation of the Starlink satellite internet service in Iran two years ago, during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests and the severe crackdown alongside widespread disruptions in internet speed and access in the country. Access to accurate information on the number of Starlink users in Iran is not possible due to user privacy protections by the company, but unofficial images and numerous reports have been published indicating a significant increase in its users in Iran. Mehdi Mohibi, the head of the telecommunications devices union, reported in 2022 that 800 Starlink satellite internet devices had entered Iran, but new images of Starlink equipment installations in Iran indicate that the number of users has seen considerable growth over these two years. A Starlink seller in Iran recently told a domestic website that 'his estimate is that the number of active Starlink terminals in Iran has exceeded 10,000 devices.' This seller claims that his customers include a range of factories, hotels, and even operators of popular social media channels like YouTube. The common feature among these applicants is likely the 'heavy losses' they have incurred due to filtering in their businesses, and now they have turned to Starlink to secure their income. Iran's internet ranks in the 'red' category in the rankings of most reputable institutions, making it one of the least free countries. Data from the 'Freedom House' website shows that Iran imposes the most restrictions on free internet access among 72 countries, following China and Myanmar, making it one of the least free countries in terms of citizens' access to the internet. Users' solutions to cope with internet restrictions usually come with higher costs. Therefore, just as most people find paying for VPNs reasonable and unavoidable, purchasing services like Starlink is likely economically justifiable for some wealthier individuals. After the protests of 2022 and the increased demand for VPN purchases, the black market for these services has flourished to the extent that some have started selling VPNs alongside their main jobs. According to a survey by ISPA, an official domestic center, the use of VPNs tripled after the filtering of 'Instagram' and 'WhatsApp' in the fall of 2022, with the average Iranian user spending about four hours a day using a VPN. The Tehran E-Commerce Association also estimated the market turnover for buying and selling VPN tools to be around '5 trillion tomans' this July. Starlink, as a service that provides access to free internet without a VPN, is a new and expensive option that is gradually replacing older methods. Accordingly, the increase in supply and decrease in Starlink prices in the future may also impact the VPN economy in Iran. The government against Starlink Although there is no specific provision in Iranian law addressing the use of emerging tools like satellite internet, officials of the Islamic Republic state that using this service is illegal. The Ministry of Communications immediately filed a complaint with the International Telecommunication Union after the emergence of Starlink, demanding compliance with Iran's territorial laws by Starlink. Elon Musk also mentioned last year in a meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister that the Iranian government expressed dissatisfaction with the establishment of Starlink coverage by sending him a letter. The Starlink website displays a gray map of Iran, indicating that no service is currently provided in this country; however, Starlink device suppliers offer 'roaming subscriptions' from Asian countries to applicants, allowing holders of these devices to access satellite internet anywhere in Asia, including Iran. Promises to lift filtering were made during the administrations of Hassan Rouhani and even Ebrahim Raisi, but not only did they not materialize, but more social media platforms were also filtered. Nevertheless, the rapid development of Starlink will gradually reduce people's reliance on governments for access to free internet. Accordingly, the expansion of Starlink usage will increase the Iranian government's motivation to counter this technology. The Islamic Republic's actions against Starlink have so far only prevented its official entry into the country, but they have not succeeded in stopping the sale of devices in the black market; a reality that the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly has also acknowledged. This center expressed concern about the spread of satellite internet technology in a report, stating: 'Given that it has recently been announced that all phones will be connected to Starlink within two years, it seems we are closer to accessing satellite internet than ever before.' The Biden administration is turning the permit for Iranians to access internet services into a government regulation.