I’m reading here:
As Starlink’s user base grows, the Iranian government is likely to intensify efforts to restrict satellite internet access.
How could they do so?
I’m reading here:
As Starlink’s user base grows, the Iranian government is likely to intensify efforts to restrict satellite internet access.
How could they do so?
By not allowing it to be sold. The antenna is a physical product, that needs to legally enter the country, legally be sold, and Starlink needs to be able to legally charge you monthly subscription fees. If they can’t sell it to you then you are not getting it.
Sure, you can get a fake address and payment details in a neighboring country, get a subscription there, then smuggle the antenna in, but that’s much more difficult, hence the access is restricted.
What if you pay it via crypto or some off the books shit like that?
If you have to do that in order to access something, then the access is restricted, isn’t it?
Yeah but far easier than without it. I do agree, making something just a little harder always means fewer people using it.
You still have to have the equipment to transmit to the satelites. Getting the equipment in the country will need to go through customs. And if they check the package, they will confiscate it (and possibly fine you, or jail you).
Example: The US passed two different laws that were signed into law, in order to stop the sale of DJI drones because of “National Security”. DJI drone imports are getting stopped at customs.
I mean, its not illegal for Americans to buy DJI drones (as of writing this comment), I don’t think they have technically banned the sales yet, but they are already trying to stop DJI drones from entering the country, customs are confiscating it / sending it back. (You can still buy them from resellers in the US if they have old stock, or if they somehow got the new stock in)