Iranian internet prices are rising, as are fears of greater censorship
Iranians could pay up to 34% more for internet by 2024 if providers get the green light from the government to increase their rates.
Seen as a move to offset persistently high levels of inflation, many commentators fear that less affordable internet rates could worsen ongoing problems with online censorship and discourage citizens from accessing digital services.
Authorities have long tried to gain control over the information users can and cannot access β especially during times of protests. As a result, Iranians have turned to VPN services in droves as a way to bypass restrictions. Higher internet rates seem like yet another way to limit people's online activities.
An expensive limited internet
βIn an environment of political unrest and regular protests, reliable and affordable internet is crucial for maintaining social connections and staying informed, making this new barrier to connecting to the internet all the more devastating,β said Lina Survila, spokeswoman for VPN provider Surfshark. me.
Tehran is notorious for its heavy restrictions on the internet β Surfshark counted 55 cases since 2015. However, this trend was significantly reinforced in late 2022 when a wave of protests broke out following news that a 22-year-old Iranian woman had died in prison. detention of Iran's moral police for alleged violation of strict hijab rules.
It is highly likely that this increase in internet rates is an attempt to put online access out of reach for many Iranians
Lina Survila, Surfsjark
Authorities began restricting internet connections and restricting access to Instagram and WhatsApp as a means of silencing protesters.
Since then, weekly internet disruptions have also been enforced during Friday prayers in the Zahedan region, making Iran by far the biggest perpetrator of internet shutdowns in 2023.
While a virtual private network (VPN) can't help during periods of complete Internet shutdowns, it is a very useful tool for accessing restricted social media platforms and other blocked sites. It spoofs users' IP addresses and encrypts Internet connections for better privacy.
Simply put, VPNs make government-imposed restrictions ineffective β and that doesn't sit well with authorities.
We already mentioned how technology in Iran acts as both an oppressor and a liberator. A spike in internet prices certainly falls into the first category.
On this point, Survila said: βIt is very likely that this increase in internet rates is an attempt to put online access out of reach for many Iranians. Surfshark's research into the internet divide has shown that the internet is already often unaffordable in lower-income countries. (including Iran). This price increase threatens to worsen the issue.”
To make matters worse, Iran's internet infrastructure is also considered one of the worst in the world. In a detailed report, the Tehran Electronic Commerce Association described it as a βcritical conditionThe government has even previously shared plans to create a national internet, following what China has with its infamous Great Firewall.
This time there were also concerns from the political banks.
If Iran International reports thisthe former Minister of Communications Mohammad-Javad Azari-Jahromi said: βThe result of the price increase is apparently clear; the end of this spiral will lead to securing the economic interests of satellite internet providers and widening the (political) gap between the people and the government. “