Cartoon by Mohsen Hedayati

Iran internet quality deteriorates amid ongoing unrest, Cloudflare data shows

BNE: Internet infrastructure provider Cloudflare has reported reduced traffic volume and quality deterioration across Iran's internet network over the past week, CITNA reported on January 8.

Data from Cloudflare's monitoring systems showed Iran's internet traffic fell below normal levels at various points during the week ending January 8, with sudden drops visible in traffic charts. The findings coincide with the second week of nationwide protests over economic conditions.

The internet quality issues come amid sustained economic pressure from currency depreciation and subsidy reforms, which have driven the current wave of demonstrations across multiple provinces.

Users reported slower connection speeds, increased latency and difficulty accessing some online and international services. Connection instability and reduced service quality were reported at various times throughout the day and were not confined to specific regions.

Analysis of Cloudflare's data patterns indicated that the disruptions did not stem from complete internet shutdowns but rather from bandwidth reductions and communication quality throttling. Internet access remained available but operated at lower speeds and with less stability than under normal conditions

The deterioration follows an established pattern of targeted internet restrictions during periods of civil unrest in Iran, typically aimed at limiting protesters' coordination and information-sharing capabilities.

Previous protest movements in Iran, including those in 2019 and 2022, saw authorities implement widespread internet restrictions ranging from bandwidth throttling to near-total shutdowns of mobile data services.

The current disruptions appear less severe than complete blackouts but still represent significant interference with normal connectivity.

No official explanation has been provided regarding the cause of the quality reduction or when full restoration might occur. The continued disruption could affect online businesses, digital service provision and users' ability to access information and communicate across Iran.

International monitoring organisations typically view targeted internet disruptions during periods of civil unrest as attempts to limit documentation and dissemination of events on the ground, though such measures have proven increasingly difficult to implement comprehensively given the proliferation of circumvention tools and alternative connection methods.