Inside Iran’s Thriving Black Market For Starlink Terminals

TOPLINE Starlink, a satellite internet service built by SpaceX, is banned in Iran, which has some of the most restrictive internet in the world. But its use has surged in the last two years since SpaceX’s billionaire founder Elon Musk turned on the service, an act that encouraged smugglers to sneak terminals into Iran.

Threats of fines and jail time haven't deterred a black market fueled by a growing activist movement to get the internet into people’s hands. Now, as many as an estimated 20,000 people have high-speed Internet access that is nearly impossible for the Islamic Republic to censor, much less shut down.

That’s a minuscule fraction of the 89 million people who live in Iran. And the exorbitant resale prices mean the terminals are only affordable for the privileged few — they resell for anywhere from $700 to $2,000, compared to the typical American retail price of $250. (An average Iranian monthly salary is around $250.)

The Starlink service also requires a $70 monthly fee, which, due to American sanctions on Iranian banks, needs a convoluted series of steps involving crypto and prepaid credit cards.

But for those who can afford it and have an appetite for risk, the reasons to acquire a Starlink terminal range from the mundane to the political.

Forbes spoke to multiple Starlink users in Iran for whom unfiltered internet means faster speeds for video calls and video games, unfettered access to social media and the ability to say whatever they want—as well as a better way to organize against the government.

WHY IT MATTERS “Starlink's growth in Iran matters because it represents a new generation of Internet access that cannot be censored by the government,” says Forbes senior writer Cyrus Farivar.

“For decades, activists have tried to expand Internet access with limited success—fundamentally they were always stymied by the Islamic Republic's control over ISPs and mobile phone companies. If the price were to come down and it was easier for Iranians to pay for their Starlink service, it could be a real game changer in the country.”