Iran's 'Internet Pro' Plan Sparks New Wave of Public Anger

Iran is facing its longest internet blackout in history, now exceeding two months, and a new program called "Internet Pro" is igniting a fresh wave of public fury. The system, launched by the state-owned Mobile Telecommunication Company of Iran (MCI)—which has close ties to the Revolutionary Guards—offers a more stable and less restricted connection to specific groups, provided they can prove their professional or academic affiliation. Critics say this has created a sharp divide between a "digital elite" with relatively open access and the vast majority of citizens who are left with expensive VPNs or no real connection at all.

The blackout began on January 8, 2026, amid anti-government protests, and was temporarily eased before being re-tightened following U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28. During this period, global internet has been cut off for millions of Iranians, while only limited local services remain operational. According to CNN, the debate over internet access has become a sensitive political and social issue, with echoes reaching the highest levels of government.

Digital Divide and Economic Strain

The "Internet Pro" program, according to independent media reports, has effectively "divided Iranian society into two digital classes." One class enjoys fast, uncensored connectivity, while the other lives under severe restrictions and high costs. One Tehran resident, Faraz (38), told reporters: "Imagine spending your last savings to buy just a few gigabytes to open an app or read the news, and then seeing others using the internet as if nothing had happened."

As restrictions have tightened, the VPN market in Iran has boomed, with prices soaring. Human rights organizations estimate that the internet blackout has caused losses of approximately $1.8 billion in just two months, a figure consistent with estimates from the Iranian Chamber of Commerce. Economic reports indicate that the indirect cost of internet access has become an additional burden on households already struggling with high inflation and limited wages, where the average monthly income ranges between 20 and 35 million tomans (about $240 to $420).

The cost of subscribing to the new service has also risen, with annual packages reaching around two million tomans, plus activation and data usage fees. This is in stark contrast to the much lower prices of traditional internet, which has itself become largely ineffective. In response to this gap, illegal attempts to obtain unrestricted internet via Starlink devices have emerged, despite the fact that their use is banned and can lead to security prosecution.

Internal Government Rifts

The two-tier internet system has sparked divisions within state institutions themselves. The Supreme National Security Council supported the program's launch, while the government of President Masoud Pezeshkian opposed the idea of tiered access, deeming it unfair. The president's office stated that the internet restrictions are "unjustified," and Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi affirmed that internet access is a right for all citizens, adding that the digital class system is "ineffective."

In contrast, hardline officials have defended the policy, arguing it is necessary to protect infrastructure from cyberattacks and to ensure the continuity of essential services during crises. Authorities have also justified the program as an emergency measure aimed at enabling vital professions like doctors, journalists, and researchers to continue working. However, this justification has done little to quell criticism. Professional organizations, including the Nurses' Union and the Iranian Psychiatric Association, have described the system as a "deepening of social discrimination" and an additional cause of psychological stress and loss of public trust.

Lawyer Mohammad Hamed Shahriar said the issue is no longer just about internet censorship, but about "redefining who has the right to access the digital world." Public anger is growing over what many Iranians see as a "system of digital privileges," especially with the appearance of "Internet Pro" cards on the black market and accusations of corruption and influence-peddling within the network access system. The head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, has warned against illegal exploitation of the system and called for an investigation into "discriminatory and corrupt access."

Reformist voices within Iran are also warning that this approach exacerbates feelings of injustice and fuels social division, at a time when authorities are trying to project a unified internal front against external pressures. On the ground, however, the internet issue has become a new symbol of social and political inequality, and a clear exposure of growing fractures within the Iranian system itself, between those who have access to the digital world and those who are completely denied it.