Iran Eases Business Internet Access

Iran's Iran — Supreme National Security Council has approved a temporary 'Internet Pro' scheme to allow businesses limited access to the global internet, following widespread blackouts imposed since January 8 in response to anti-government protests and a new blackout initiated on February 28 after strikes by the United States and Israel. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announced the scheme, which aims to mitigate severe economic damage, estimated at $30 million to $80 million daily, caused by the internet restrictions. The outages have impacted various sectors beyond the digital economy, leading to job losses and surging prices. While the government cites security concerns during the conflict, it faces growing public frustration and economic disruption. NetBlocks reported that most Iranians have been without global internet access for 60 days, with only a few circumventing restrictions via expensive VPNs. Investigations are underway regarding some operators violating the 'Internet Pro' framework.