Iran’s National Security Council has approved a controversial plan called “Internet Pro” that offers paid, limited internet access to chosen professional groups while restricting foreign websites and international data traffic. The measure comes amid a near-total blackout that began on February 28 after attacks on the country and has now lasted more than 80 days — the longest shutdown in Iran’s history.
“Internet Pro” is not a technical upgrade to the network but a scheme that allows certain users to bypass parts of the nationwide block. Access is being limited to groups such as members of the Chamber of Commerce, startups, technology firms and retailers. The initial package provides 50 gigabytes of data for roughly $11 (about €9.50) — a steep cost given Iran’s soaring inflation (over 50%) and the collapse of the rial.
Digital rights researchers warn the service still does not restore full access to major platforms. Solmaz Eikder, an internet researcher with Filterbaan/Filterwatch who monitors censorship from exile in Europe, says sites long blocked in Iran — including Instagram, X and YouTube — remain inaccessible to many “Internet Pro” users without separate circumvention tools like VPNs. Those tools are increasingly unaffordable or ineffective during near-total shutdowns.
The blackout and the selective access plan have severe economic and social consequences. Government officials justify “Internet Pro” as a way to “prevent disruptions to economic activity and ensure business communication in times of crisis,” but millions of ordinary Iranians are excluded. Small online sellers, many of them women from towns and villages who relied on platforms to sell handmade goods, dried fruit or food, have seen vital income streams vanish. Tens of thousands of jobs have been lost as production and industry suffer damage.
Critics inside Iran — including newspapers such as Shargh — say the policy turns access to information and communication from a public right into a privilege reserved for the well connected. Students and many families’ primary earners are not eligible. Every user is tied to a national ID and registered mobile number, raising privacy and surveillance concerns. Some young people report buying VPNs on the black market if they can afford them; others cannot.
Independent news organizations are struggling to reach people inside Iran. Oliver Linow, an internet freedom specialist, notes that outlets like DW have provided censorship-circumvention tools for years, but those tools often fail during comprehensive shutdowns. President Masoud Pezeshkian has said service will be restored soon, but decision-making over internet policy remains fragmented across multiple bodies — from the National Security Council to the Supreme Council for Cyberspace. A new crisis management team led by Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has been formed to reduce overlapping authorities, but its role and responsibilities have been kept confidential.
For now, the “Internet Pro” program underscores how digital access in Iran is increasingly being rationed by status and ability to pay, intensifying economic strain and limiting access to independent information for millions.
This article was translated from German.