Iran's former secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace warned that governments will lose the ability to cut internet access within two to three years due to satellite technologies like Starlink, calling for alternative solutions to manage crises, Zoomit reported on January 23.

Abolhassan Firouzabadi, former head of the National Cyberspace Centre, told ISNA news agency that whilst internet shutdowns have been used as a crisis management tool, advancing satellite technologies from companies including SpaceX, China and Europe will enable direct satellite connections that governments cannot control.

"Cyberspace, communications and information in the new era have become necessities of life. Depriving society of this space is in fact similar to depriving people of water, electricity and gas," Firouzabadi said.

He said the internet shutdown tool would remain in government hands for "no more than two or three years" as satellite internet technologies advance, with companies including Apple incorporating satellite connectivity into new devices.

Firouzabadi described filtering policies as "unsuccessful", saying Iranian users spend IRR40trn to IRR50trn ($28.4mn to $35.5mn at open market rates) annually on circumvention tools, with a significant portion leaving the country. He said filtering not only failed to prevent widespread use of blocked platforms but also had dangerous side effects including network pollution, increased access to criminal content, weakened cybersecurity and public distrust.

The former official proposed alternative solutions including crisis management without cutting text messages, international communications or domestic platforms. He suggested restrictions should be limited to specific hours or regions rather than nationwide, with faster restoration of normal access in calm areas.

"Government officials must take risks because cutting the internet harms society's economic security," Firouzabadi said, adding that security officials should prioritise costs to people's lives over government security costs.

He acknowledged the economic damage from internet restrictions cannot be accurately measured, as many losses including psychological and spiritual impacts are immeasurable. Digital services have become essential for life including economy, education and banking, making existence without them unimaginable.

On satellite internet, Firouzabadi said legal bans are ineffective because "society's communication need is like the need for air and people will not comply with deterrent laws".

He called Starlink prohibition "principled" due to national security concerns and potential organised crime facilitation, whilst acknowledging such bans have proven ineffective in practice, with millions continuing to use prohibited services.

He attributed current conditions to "divergent views within the establishment" between those believing in restricting foreign platforms and those arguing such policies have failed without providing reliable alternatives. Until domestic platforms gain user trust, strict restrictions are not only ineffective but erode social capital, he said.

The comments come as Iran's internet shutdown enters its third week, with under 5% of users connected to the global internet.