PARIS: After months under a near-total Internet blackout during the Middle East war, Iranian tech worker Amir-Hassan was finally able to get back online, but only through a privileged service that has sparked public criticism.
Millions like the 39-year-old have been unable to access the Internet since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, punishing the pockets of online entrepreneurs and workers.
But he did not hesitate when a message offered him the chance to get back online by purchasing the so-called “Pro Internet” system, designed for certain professionals and business owners.
“It was out of necessity. I was forced to get Internet so I could ensure the flow of my income,” he told AFP, adding that he paid around $11 for an initial 50-gigabyte package.
By April 5, Internet monitor NetBlocks estimated that the blackout since the war broke out was “the longest nation-scale Internet shutdown on record in any country.”
