Iran’s Internet Pro deepens digital divide in 72-day blackout

Iran has introduced a paid two-tier service called Internet Pro that gives pre-approved users broader international access while a nationwide internet blackout enters its 72nd day. Public connectivity has fallen to roughly 1% of normal levels, and officials and analysts estimate the shutdown is inflicting heavy economic damage.

The blackout began hours after attacks on Feb. 28 and was implemented as a security measure. An internet monitoring group tracking the outage reports there is no sign of a wider restoration while authorities restrict international access for most users.

Under Internet Pro, selected accounts can reach international websites without the same filters imposed on the general public. Most Iranians remain confined to a small set of domestic and state-approved online services. The service is priced at levels many users cannot afford, pushing some to use virtual private networks and other circumvention tools that carry legal and security risks. There are also reports that enforcement actions have followed use of satellite internet services, including at least one arrest that reportedly preceded a death.

Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi has criticized the two-tier arrangement, calling it invalid and accusing operators of misuse. Hardline officials, including Mohammad Amin Aghamiri, who oversees the governing cyberspace authority, support the restricted-access policy.

Economist Mahdi Ghodsi estimates direct and indirect losses from the shutdown range from about $250 million to nearly $3 billion per day when disruptions to banks, payment systems and private companies are included. Analysts attribute rising layoffs to the cut in connectivity and warn the disruption could affect as many as 2 million jobs and roughly 8 million family members within Iran’s economy.

Businesses report operational problems from halted online commerce, interrupted payment processing and limited international communications. State control of international gateways has left many companies unable to reach foreign partners or cloud services while domestic platforms operate with reduced functionality.

Monitoring groups describe the shutdown as unprecedented in scale and duration for Iran. The Internet Pro arrangement has deepened divisions among officials over how to balance stated security concerns with the wider economic and social effects of restricted access.