"Most of Iran's 90 million-strong population remains cut off from the rest of the world more than one week after an unprecedented, state-imposed communications blackout amid nationwide protests, which began in December and quickly turned deadly. The Iranian government abruptly cut off all internet access across the 31 provinces of the vast country on the night of January 8 when protests swelled into mass demonstrations against the clerical leadership, days after shopkeepers first shuttered their businesses in downtown Tehran in protest over rising prices."
"Mobile communications were also blocked and people were unable even to call rescue services on that first night. After the start of the blackout, it took authorities several days to restore an intranet designed to provide access to local websites and services. It is unclear when or to what extent access to the global internet will be restored. Local phone services have been restored but SMS text messages remain blocked."
Most of Iran's 90 million population remains cut off after a state-imposed communications blackout began on January 8 when protests escalated into mass demonstrations against the clerical leadership. The government shut down internet access across all 31 provinces and blocked mobile communications, leaving people unable to call rescue services. Authorities later restored a national intranet and local phone calls, but SMS and full global internet access remain restricted. Daily one-way state text messages urge vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity. Street deployment of armed forces is heavy, protests have turned deadly, and casualty figures are disputed between rights groups and officials.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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