According to international media reports, billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX company has decided to offer its Starlink satellite internet service for free to users in Iran.
The aim of this measure is to help Iranian citizens access information and communication, at a time when the country is facing severe internet restrictions.
Bloomberg News reported that the monthly subscription fee has been waived, allowing people in Iran who already own Starlink receivers to connect to the internet at no cost. However, availability of the devices remains a challenge, as their import into the country is limited by sanctions and state controls.
This development comes as the internet blockade in Iran has now entered its fifth day, leaving millions of citizens without access to social networks, communication platforms and international media, reports skynews.
Iranian authorities have used internet shutdowns as a means to restrict the flow of information during recent tensions in the country.
Today, for the first time in days, Iranian citizens were able to make phone calls to foreign countries, in what is seen as a partial easing of restrictions. However, the majority of the population remains cut off from the outside world, without full access to the internet and independent sources of information.
The free offering of Starlink service is seen by many observers as an attempt to support freedom of communication and bypass digital censorship, while the situation in Iran continues to remain tense. /Telegraph/
