Iran enters record-breaking 37-day nationwide internet blackout

• Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has now lasted over 37 consecutive days, making it the longest recorded nationwide shutdown of its kind, with connectivity to the global internet at about one percent of normal levels.
• The extended digital blackout has effectively isolated Iranians from global online communication while limited domestic access persists through heavily restricted networks.

Iran’s nationwide internet blackout, first imposed over a month ago, has now become the longest recorded global shutdown of its kind, according to the internet monitor NetBlocks.

The monitor confirmed in a tweet that the blackout, which entered its 37th consecutive day, has exceeded all previous nation-scale internet interruptions in both duration and severity. “Iran’s internet blackout is now the longest nation-scale internet shutdown on record in any country, exceeding all other comparable incidents in severity having entered its 37th consecutive day after 864 hours,” NetBlocks said.

Context of the blackout

While some countries have experienced intermittent or region-specific shutdowns over longer periods, the complete nationwide nature of Iran’s blackout is unprecedented. NetBlocks noted that North Korea, by contrast, has never had a connection to the global internet, making Iran’s situation unique among connected nations.

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The ongoing outage has severely affected communications, business operations, and access to information across Iran. Citizens report that both mobile and fixed-line internet services remain largely inaccessible, intensifying frustrations and complicating daily life.

Global implications

Experts warn that prolonged blackouts of this scale can disrupt international communications, impede economic activity, and exacerbate humanitarian challenges, particularly in a country already facing economic sanctions and internal unrest.

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No official explanation has been provided by Iranian authorities regarding the timeline for restoring nationwide connectivity. Observers continue to monitor the situation, noting that the blackout’s duration now sets a global benchmark for digital isolation.