Iran's Internet Shutdown Under the Microscope: How Iota Measures Connectivity and Why It Matters

Researchers Amanda Meng and Alberto Dainotti of Georgia Tech explain how the Iota project tracks internet connectivity around the world, with a focus on Iran during a nationwide shutdown. The episode breaks down the three signals used to gauge whether data can flow: router announcements, active probing, and telescope traffic gathered from network measurements. It explains how Iran’s centralized telecom regime can throttle or selectively allow traffic through whitelists, and how satellite internet such as Starlink could provide a partial workaround despite legal and practical barriers. The conversation also touches on the human impact of outages on families, emergency services, and the economy, and why understanding when and where connectivity fails matters for civic life and resilience.

Overview

This medium summary discusses content from NPR's Shortwave episode about monitoring internet connectivity in Iran during a mass shutdown. The program centers on the Iota project, a public service that aggregates global internet measurements and makes them accessible to researchers and the public. The discussion features Amanda Meng, a social scientist at Georgia Tech, and Alberto Dainotti, a computer scientist at Georgia Tech who studies internet infrastructure. They explain what it means to observe and interpret connectivity when a government restricts access to information and services.

How Iota Works: Three Core Signals

The researchers describe three signals they rely on to determine whether the internet is flowing in a given location. First, router announcements reveal which networks claim reachability and what traffic they would deliver. Second, active probing involves continuously pinging networks to test reachability and response times. Third, a form of traffic pollution, captured by network telescopes, provides a liveness signal by filtering noise and observing aggregate traffic patterns. These signals together help map where connectivity exists, where it is down, and how long outages last.

"the key word here really is centralization, how much the connectivity infrastructure is centralized." - Alberto Dainotti, computer scientist at Georgia Tech

Iran's Internet Architecture: Centralization, Censorship, and Whitelisting

The conversation highlights how Iran's internet infrastructure has long been centralized under state control, enabling authorities to influence how traffic flows through intermediate nodes and links. The experts discuss tactics that go beyond blunt routing cuts, such as whitelisting specific services for trusted users, while others remain offline. They contrast this with past events like Bloody November in 2019, when broader routing announcements dropped drastically, and reflect on how authorities have evolved to implement more targeted shutdowns that balance political aims with economic costs.

"The internet is relatively opaque, especially the internet infrastructure, and so there is a scientific aspect in trying to understand internet connectivity better." - Amanda Meng, social scientist at Georgia Tech

Satellite Internet and the Limits of Connectivity

Starlink and other satellite systems introduce new dynamics, potentially bypassing some terrestrial controls but also inviting government pushback and technical challenges. The show notes a protester who remains online via satellite links, a reminder that new technologies can both empower and complicate governance. The hosts and guests discuss whether satellite connectivity can undermine centralized control or simply shift the battleground to a different layer of the network.

"The signal jamming of Starlink, the satellites owned by SpaceX, is an example of how even this type of connectivity can be within reach of governments." - Alberto Dainotti, computer scientist at Georgia Tech

Why Measuring Connectivity Matters

The speakers emphasize that the internet’s opacity makes it difficult to understand outages and resilience. Iota seeks to provide actionable, global data on where and when connectivity fails, not only during political events but also in emergencies or natural disasters. They reflect on the broader implications for civic life, including the ability to mobilize resources, communicate with loved ones, and access critical services during disruptions.

"So emails cannot be sent outside of Iran, for instance." - Amanda Meng, social scientist at Georgia Tech

Broader Implications and the Path Forward

Looking ahead, the discussion considers how centralized versus decentralized networks shape resilience under pressure, with Ukraine cited as an example of decentralized connectivity contributing to resilience. The episode stresses that understanding internet failure is essential not just for policymakers but for communities seeking to maintain connection, safety, and information during upheaval. The researchers advocate for continued measurements, open data, and cross-border collaboration to illuminate the science behind the headlines and support informed decision-making in the realm of digital infrastructure.

Quotes above are representative excerpts from the discussion with Amanda Meng and Alberto Dainotti, focusing on centralization, opacity of infrastructure, satellite jamming, and the implications for everyday connectivity.