Iranians near Iraq border cross frontier to get internet during blackout
Iranians living near the border with Iraq's Kurdistan region are crossing into neighbouring territory or gathering at the frontier to get online, as a months-long internet blackout continues in Iran.
Residents in border areas say the disruption has left them cut off from news, family members abroad and, in some cases, their livelihoods.
The reported blackout is centred on Tehran and has affected tens of millions of people, according to the supplied account.
Officials have said the restrictions are justified by security considerations and the need to counter cyber warfare.
People in the border city of Baneh, which is about 30 kilometres from the nearest crossing, have been among those seeking access.
One resident said the internet in Iran was completely shut down after the war began, while another in Sardasht said some people were trying to use the border to regain access to information.
The disruption matters because it is affecting both daily communication and economic activity.
Traders and shopkeepers in Baneh, where much of the economy depends on trade, have reportedly turned to SIM cards from neighbouring countries to keep working.
The account also says authorities have criminalised tools that many people have used to try to get online, including VPNs and Starlink satellite internet.
That has added to the pressure on people in frontier communities who are already dealing with the blackout.
Iran and Iraq share a 1,600-kilometre border, and the frontier near Baneh has become a practical route for some residents seeking connectivity.
The supplied report says Iraqi mobile network SIM cards from Korek and Asiacell can carry partial coverage into Iran's frontier areas.
