Iran appears set to restore internet access after 3-months blackout

Key Points:

• Iran's internet disruptions have entered their 13th consecutive week, severely limiting access to global online services crucial for freelancers, developers, and content creators, causing estimated economic losses of around $4 billion over 60 days.
• The government has implemented a tiered "Internet Pro" system, granting higher-quality internet access to approved users at high costs, deepening digital inequality and making international internet access a luxury rather than a public utility.
• Restrictions and filtering have forced Iranian software teams to abandon traditional digital marketing channels and rely on direct methods like SMS and webinars, while many developers struggle to access AI tools that have globally lowered software production costs.
• Political repression continues alongside internet restrictions, with reports of protesters being shot and denied medical care during demonstrations, secret night burials of victims, and ongoing executions of political prisoners accused of security-related offenses.
• The internet shutdown reflects a broader shift in Iran's governance, where connectivity is increasingly treated as a controlled privilege tied to political and economic interests, rather than a public right, fueling a growing divide between connected elites and the general population.